LAUSR

Abstract The response of a premixed flame subjected to either flame stretch (and associated Lewis number effects) or heat loss has been well documented in the literature and has enabled a good understanding of canonical configurations such as flat burner-stabilized, counter flow and tubular flames. However, in practical burners, flames are simultaneously subjected to stretch, heat transfer with the flame holder and preferential diffusion effects. For such flames, usually the collective effect of underlying contributions is studied and individual effects are only treated in a qualitative manner. In this paper, our objective is to use flame stretch theory to separate and quantify the underlying contributions from flame stretch, preferential diffusion and heat transfer with the flame holder to the flame speed of bluff body stabilized flames. It is shown that the theory adequately predicts the flame displacement speed in comparison to the results from the numerical simulations. Using the quantification of contributions, an overall stabilization mechanism for H 2 enriched CH 4 -air mixtures is discussed. The role of competing contributions from preferential diffusion and heat loss is highlighted especially near the flame base region where the flame speed is heavily impacted by all the effects. Insights are also given for low Lewis number flashback prone flames.