Modeling and analysis of hydrogen enriched Methane Combustion in Confined Chambers using ANSYS Fluent

Abstract

This study investigates the combustion characteristics of methane-air mixtures using ANSYS Fluent, focusing on three main aspects: global reaction modeling, the effects of hydrogen addition, and a detailed chemical reaction mechanism. The global reaction analysis explores the fundamental combustion behavior of methane in air, establishing a baseline for comparison with more complex scenarios. The second part of the study examines the impact of adding hydrogen to the methane-air mixture, with particular attention to the changes in combustion efficiency, flame characteristics, and pollutant emissions. Finally, a detailed mechanism involving a comprehensive set of chemical reactions is implemented to capture the complex interactions within the combustion process, providing deeper insight into species formation, temperature distribution, and reaction pathways. The results from these three approaches are compared to highlight the effects of hydrogen on combustion dynamics and the accuracy of global versus detailed reaction models in predicting real-world behavior. This comparative analysis reveals that hydrogen addition enhances combustion efficiency, reduces emissions, and alters the flame structure, while the detailed mechanism offers a more accurate prediction of temperature profiles and species concentrations compared to the global reaction model. Overall, this study underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate modeling approach based on the desired level of accuracy and computational resources.