Combustion systems are everywhere. From manufacturing to power production, from chemical processing and refining to transportation and beyond, the impact that combustion has on the world as we know it is huge. Designing for efficient chemical reactions using fluid dynamics is a key factor in almost all systems and product designs involving combustion. 

For combustion to operate efficiently, flow rates of reactant streams (fuel and oxidizer) must be tightly controlled. System temperatures and pressures must also be maintained at design levels. On the downstream side, combustion products and heat release rates are determined by the extent of reaction and the fuel and oxidizer flow rates and ratios. Because the job of the burner is to maintain the design level of mixing the fluid and oxidizer streams, the burner design itself can have a huge impact on how much fuel can be effectively combusted.

Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis is vital to investigating, analyzing, and optimizing how combustion systems and burners behave.  Simulation allows for detailed 3D, full-flow field looks ‘inside’ the burner and flame zone, which is something that can be seen in the field but is difficult to measure. This captured data from simulation can lead to burner and system adjustments as designs are improved.  Whether the goal is a more stable flame, improved fuel consumption, reduced by-product (pollutant) emissions, or enhanced heat absorption downstream, the use of CFD will rapidly allow for the innovation of burner and combustion systems.

At Resolved, we have used various CFD modeling techniques to help clients achieve their combustion system goals such as improved fuel and oxidizer mixing, decreased pollutant emission, and enhanced heat release.  If you have a combustion system, you would like us to help shed light on via simulation, reach out and Find Your Flow today.