Abstract

Clean, efficient low-carbon combustion remains highly relevant as a practical means of large-scale energy conversion for transport and electricity generation. Novel fuels and novel combustor configurations currently under development pose challenges for existing design methods, and there is a need for improved fundamental understanding of the reacting flow physics and flame dynamics. Computational approaches such as Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) are used to gain insight and also to extract statistical data to support Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) simulation of real-world combustion systems. Fortunately, advances in computer architectures and solution algorithms offer opportunities for faster and more accurate simulation. The seminar will describe some recent advances in DNS methods, with analysis and results for turbulent premixed flame structure and stability.