Effect of elliptic burner geometry and air equivalence ratio on the nitric oxide emissions from turbulent hydrogen flames

An experimental study on turbulent hydrogen flames from circular and elliptic burners with varying degrees of premixedness (diffusion, fuel-rich, stoichiometric, and fuel-lean) is presented. Flame stability, visible flame height, flame radiation, global nitric oxide (NO) concentration, and inflame temperature and NO concentration profiles were measured. We found that the elliptic burner flames had lower liftoff velocity, were shorter, and radiated less heat to the surrounding as compared to circular burner flames. Global NO concentration decreased with an increase in air equivalence ratio for both circular and elliptic burner flames. Peak in-flame NO concentration along the flame centerline increased with a decrease in air equivalence ratio. Elliptic burner flames produced higher peak in-flame temperatures. Overall, the elliptic burner flames produced less peak NO as compared to circular burner flames at all air equivalence ratios except zero (diffusion flames) in accordance with the global emission measurements.