Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

This study was motivated by recent tests results showing that a 5cm i.d. low-swirl burner (LSB) stabilizes ultra-lean premixed turbulent flames up to 600kW. A parametric study has been performed to determine the optimum ultra-lean LSB configuration, i.e. one that will achieve low NOx and flame stability, for thermal input between 15kW to 150kW. Using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), non-reacting centerline velocity and rms fluctuation profiles were measured, and were found to show self-similar behavior. This self-similarity may explain why the flame remains stationary relative to the burner exit despite a change in bulk flow velocity from 5 to 90m/s. The recess distance of the swirler affects the shape of the mean and rms velocity profiles. Lean blow-off limits were also determined for various recess distances, and an optimum exit length was found that provides stable operation for ultra-lean flames.