Modeling MILD combustion using a novel multistage FGM method

Moderate or intense low-oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion is a promising concept to reduce emissions and increase efficiency. It requires high levels of dilution and preheating of reactants, which is realized by mixing reactants with products. In order to extend the application areas of MILD combustion, adequate computational models must be developed. In this study, one of the candidate models, flamelet generated manifolds (FGM), has been assessed in terms of applicability to MILD combustion. Based on the results of this assessment, a novel multistage (MuSt) FGM method has been developed. The need for developing such a method mainly stems from the existence of different combustion stages in the MILD regime, which cannot be represented by a single progress variable. In the MuSt-FGM approach, each stage of combustion is modeled using a different progress variable, without increasing the dimension of the lookup table. The MuSt-FGM approach has been tested by conducting a priori study, and simulating both 1D laminar and 2D turbulent flames. Proving successful in all three tests, the MuSt-FGM method emerges as a promising tool for modeling not only MILD combustion, but also other systems where combustion is characterized by different stages.