On the Response of Ultralean Combustion of CH(4)/H(2) Blends in a Porous Burner to Fluctuations in Fuel Flow—an Experimental Investigation

[Image: see text] Fluctuations in the fuel flow rate may occur in practical combustion systems and result in flame destabilization. This is particularly problematic in lean and ultralean modes of burner operation. In this study, the response of a ceramic porous burner to fluctuations in the flow rate of different blends of methane and hydrogen is investigated experimentally. Prior to injection into the porous burner, the fuel blend is premixed with air at equivalence ratios below 0.275. The fuel streams are measured and controlled separately by programmable mass flow controllers, which impose sinusoidal fluctuations on the flow rates. To replicate realistic fluctuations in the fuel flow rate, the period of oscillations is chosen to be on the order of minutes. The temperature inside the ceramic foam is measured using five thermocouples located at the center of the working section of the burner. The flame embedded in porous media is imaged while the fuel flow is modulated. Analysis of the flame pictures and temperature traces shows that the forced oscillation of the fuel mixture leads to flame movement within the burner. This movement is found to act in accordance with the fluctuations in methane and hydrogen flows for both CH(4)(90%)–H(2)(10%) and CH(4)(70%)–H(2)(30%) mixtures. However, both fuel mixtures are noted to be rather insensitive to hydrogen flow fluctuation with a modulation amplitude below 30% of the steady flow. For the CH(4)(70%)–H(2)(30%) mixture, the flame in the porous medium can be modulated by fluctuations between 0 and 30% of steady methane flow without any noticeable flame destabilization.