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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433446
Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Development of a computational model for swirl-stabilized syngas combustion

Author
item KEMP, A - Auburn University
item SAPKOTA, S - Auburn University
item BIDWAI, S - Auburn University
item MICHAEL, J - Auburn University
item SCARBOROUGH, D - Auburn University
item JALALABADI, H - Auburn University
item ADHIKARI, S - Auburn University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2026
Publication Date: 7/26/2026
Citation: Kemp, A.J., Sapkota, S., Bidwai, S., Michael, J., Scarborough, D., Jalalabadi, H.K., Adhikari, S. 2026. Development of a computational model for swirl-stabilized syngas combustion. Proc. ASME 2026 Fluids Engineering Division. July 26–29, 2026, Bellevue, WA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a swirling-flow syngas combustor was developed in Ansys Fluent and validated against experimental results to guide the tuning and optimization of the model. Different viscous models (k-'', k-'', & RSM), near-wall treatments (standard, scalable, & enhanced), radiation models (P1 & DO), and turbulence-chemistry interaction models (FR, ED, EDC, & FR/ED) were considered. The model was validated against the experimentally determined temperature profile, CH* chemiluminescence signatures, flue gas composition, and flame shape and size for a surrogate syngas blend under several different flow rates and equivalence ratios. It was found that the most accurate simulation used the Realizable k-'' model with Enhanced Wall Treatment for turbulence modeling, DO model with WSGGM activated for radiation, and FR/ED turbulence-chemistry interaction. The CFD model predicted the experimental temperature profile with a maximum percent error of 4.76 %, correctly reproduced the observed trends in the flue gas composition with a maximum percent error of 4.58 %, and showed remarkable agreement with experimentally observed CH* chemiluminescence intensities. The results of this study will be used to inform the design of a modular combustion device that can be adapted for the optimal combustion of syngas with varying compositions produced through different biomass thermochemical conversion processes.