Large-eddy/Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation of a supersonic reacting wall jet

This work presents results from large-eddy/Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (LES/RANS) simulations of the well-known Burrows–Kurkov supersonic reacting wall-jet experiment. Generally good agreement with experimental mole fraction, stagnation temperature, and Pitot pressure profiles is obtained for non-reactive mixing of the hydrogen jet with a non-vitiated air stream. A lifted flame, stabilized between 15 and 20 cm downstream of the hydrogen jet, is formed for hydrogen injected into a vitiated air stream. Flame stabilization occurs closer to the hydrogen injection location when a three-dimensional combustor geometry (with boundary layer development resolved on all walls) is considered. Volumetric expansion of the reactive shear layer is accompanied by the formation of large eddies which interact strongly with the reaction zone. Time averaged predictions of the reaction zone structure show an under-prediction of the peak water concentration and stagnation temperature, relative to experimental data, but display generally good agreement with the extent of the reaction zone. Reactive scalar scatter plots indicate that the flame exhibits a transition from a partially-premixed flame structure, characterized by intermittent heat release, to a diffusion-flame structure that could probably be described by a strained laminar flamelet model.