Molecular Transport Effects in Turbulent Diffusion Flames at Moderate Reynolds Number

In flames molecular diffusivities are enhanced by the high temperatures and can be of the same order as turbulent diffusivities in flames of moderate Reynolds number. A perturbation analysis is used to quantify effects in a hydrogen/air diffusion flame which arise from differential molecular diffusivities. The analysis uses perturbations about the equal diffusivity, adiabatic, equilibrium theory commonly used and yields solutions for the average and higher moments for the departures in normalized element mass fractions and enthalpy. The results are compared with the laser-Raman measurements of Drake et al. in a relatively low Reynolds number flame. Generally the agreement is excellent. (Author)