Fundamental Physical Understanding of Matrix-stabilized Combustion in Porous Media

提出的研究目标是发展计算和实验方法，以提高对多孔介质中基质稳定燃烧的基本认识。基质稳定燃烧是一种先进的燃烧概念，其中燃烧在多孔导热基质中持续进行。多孔基质内部的热再循环有利于未燃烧气体混合物的预热，从而实现高效、低污染的操作。然而，对燃烧和传热过程的有限理解是成功实施低排放燃烧技术在运输和发电中的主要挑战。通过计算模型与实验研究相结合，本研究旨在实现多孔介质中基质稳定燃烧的定量预测和详细分析。具体来说，计算研究的目标是开发一种高保真的模拟能力，以便对多孔结构内的非均质燃烧过程和气固相互作用进行详细的孔隙解析模拟。实验工作将集中于开发先进的非侵入式x射线诊断，以获得多孔基质内部温度场和燃烧过程的定量测量。通过结合详细的模拟和实验诊断，系统的研究将获得对非均质燃烧过程的基本理解，识别火焰结构，并评估操作条件、材料特性和孔拓扑对火焰稳定性、排放和燃烧性能的影响。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The objective of the proposed research is to develop computational and experimental methods to improve the fundamental understanding of matrix-stabilized combustion in porous media. Matrix-stabilized combustion is an advanced combustion concept in which combustion is sustained within a porous heat-conducting matrix. The internal heat recirculation within the porous matrix facilitates preheating of the unburned gas mixture, thereby enabling high-efficiency and low-pollution operations. However, the limited understanding about the combustion and heat transfer processes represents a major challenge toward the successful implementation as low-emission combustion technology for transportation and power generation.By combining computational modeling with experimental investigations, this research seeks to enable the quantitative prediction and detailed analysis of matrix-stabilized combustion in porous media. Specifically, the goal of the computational research is to develop a high-fidelity simulation capability to enable detailed pore-resolved simulations of heterogeneous combustion processes and gas-solid interaction inside the porous structure. The experimental effort will focus on the development of advanced non-intrusive X-ray diagnostics to obtain quantitative measurements of the temperature field and combustion processes inside the porous matrix. By combining detailed simulations and experimental diagnostics, systematic investigations will be performed to obtain fundamental understanding of heterogeneous combustion processes, identify flame structure, and assess effects of operating conditions, material properties and pore topology on the flame stabilization, emissions, and combustion performance.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.