CFD SIMULATION OF

HYDROGEN COMBUSTION

INTRODUCTION
Hydrogen as alternative fuel
Evaluation of Hydrogen combustion using CFD

OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE

Understanding of the basics of Hydrogenoxygen reaction mechanism.
To develop a two dimensional numerical mesh
and flow model.
To prepare a mathematical model for hydrogenair combustion system.
The objective of this is to study CFD-package
FLUENT.

HYDROGEN AS A FUEL
It readily combines with oxygen to form water.
It has a high-energy content per weight.
Hydrogen is highly flammable.
Hydrogen burns with a pale-blue, almostinvisible flame.
The combustion of hydrogen does not produce
carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate, or sulfur
emissions.

Hydrogen can be produced from

renewable resources.

Table : Properties of fuels

PROPERTIES
OF HYDROGEN AS A FUEL
Limits of Flammability
Minimum Ignition Energy
Quenching Gap or Distance
Self Ignition Temperature
Flame Speed
Diffusivity
Density
Flame characteristics

Figure : Invisible Hydrogen Flame Igniting Broom

Figure : Hydrogen Flame from Ruptured Fuel Cylinder

BENEFITS OF HYDROGEN ECONOMY

Strengthen National Energy Security
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Reduce Air Pollution
Improve Energy Efficiency

Compressed STORAGE
Gas and Cryogenic
Storage
HYDROGEN
AND Liquid
DELIVERY
Materials-based Hydrogen Storage

Current Technology

COMBUSTION
Combustion accounts for approximately 85%
of the worlds energy usage.
Eg: Gas turbine and jet engine.
Rocket propulsion.
Piston engines.

Combustion is a complex interaction of

physical and chemical processes.

The general characteristics of combustion:

The first and second limits are ones that
correspond to conditions of very low pressures .
As the pressure increases, the initial densities of
the reactants increase and a lower temperature
is necessary for the reactions to become fast
enough for explosion.

Hydrogen Combustion

GRID GENERATION AND MATHEMATICAL

MODELING
Model geometry

Grid Generation

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING
Continuity Equation

Momentum Equations

 Inlet temperature
of hydrogen and air =300 k
Boundary
conditions
velocity 90 m/s
Exit a pressure =101325.0 Pa

CFD SIMULATION
A number of numerical simulations have been
performed to study the combustion phenomena
under adiabatic wall conditions when hydrogen
air mixture changes from lean to rich and also at
different mass flow rate of mixture. Figure.
shows the contours of temperature (K) on the
cross section along central axis of combustion
chamber at stoichiometric air fuel ratio i.e. at
=1.

Figure :

Temperature Contours at =1

Figure : Contours of Mole fraction of h2O

Figure : Contours of Mole fraction of N2

Figure : Contours of Mole fraction of O2

Figure : Contours of Mole fraction of H2

Figure : Contours of Mole fraction of OH

Figure : Contours of Mole fraction of O

CONCLUSION
CFD based combustion simulations have been
done.
The combustor performance is evaluated by
predicting the temperatures of exit gas of the
combustor and outer wall of the combustor.