Mixing and combustion at low heat release in large eddy simulations of a reacting shear layer

Abstract In this paper, the mixing and combustion at low-heat release in a turbulent mixing layer are studied numerically using large eddy simulation. The primary aim of this paper is to successfully replicate the flow physics observed in experiments of low-heat release reacting mixing layers, where a duty cycle of hot structures and cool braid regions was observed. The nature of the imposed inflow condition shows a dramatic influence on the mechanisms governing entrainment, and mixing, in the shear layer. An inflow condition perturbed by Gaussian white noise produces a shear layer which entrains fluid through a nibbling mechanism, which has a marching scalar probability density function where the most probable scalar value varies across the layer, and where the mean-temperature rise is substantially over-predicted. A more sophisticated inflow condition produced by a recycling and rescaling method results in a shear layer which entrains fluid through an engulfment mechanism, which has a non-marching scalar probability density function where a preferred scalar concentration is present across the thickness of the layer, and where the mean-temperature rise is predicted to a good degree of accuracy. The latter simulation type replicates all of the flow physics observed in the experiment. Extensive testing of subgrid-scale models, and simple combustion models, shows that the WALE model coupled with the Steady Laminar Flamelet model produces reliable predictions of mixing layer diffusion flames undergoing with fast chemistry.