Toward pore-scale simulation of combustion in porous media using a low-Mach hybrid lattice Boltzmann/finite-difference solver

Abstract

A hybrid numerical model previously developed for combustion simulations is extended in this article to describe flame propagation and stabilization in porous media. The model, with a special focus on flame/wall interaction processes, is validated via corresponding benchmarks involving flame propagation in channels with both adiabatic and constant-temperature walls. Simulations with different channel widths show that the model can correctly capture the changes in flame shape and propagation speed as well as the dead zone and quenching limit, as found in channels with cold walls. The model is further assessed considering a pseudo two-dimensional porous burner involving an array of cylindrical obstacles at constant temperature, investigated in a companion experimental study. Furthermore, the model is used to simulate pore-scale flame dynamics in a randomly generated three-dimensional porous media. Results are promising, opening the door for future simulations of flame propagation in realistic porous media.