Modeling of a lean premixed propane/air turbulent flame stabilized by a blu
ff body is presented. The laminar flamelet library approach, which has been
successfully used for modeling of nonpremixed turbulent flames, is extende
d and applied to premixed combustion. In this approach the mean flame locat
ion and mean flame thickness are modeled by a level-set G-equation and a G-
variance equation, along with empirical expressions. The detailed species c
oncentrations, temperature and density are calculated using a presumed prob
ability density function (PDF) together with a laminar flamelet library, wh
ich is generated using a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism. The sensitivi
ty of the results to the model components is investigated. It is shown that
the temperature and major species concentrations are not very sensitive to
the model components such as the turbulent flame speed and the shape of th
e presumed PDF. Species which only exist in the inner layer of the laminar
flamelet an found to be more sensitive to the model components. Comparisons
of calculations with experimental data indicate that the flamelet library
approach is able to predict the major properties of the mean turbulent flam
e. In particular the method exhibits potential in simulation of minor pollu
tant species such as NO,, with fairly detailed chemistry at a low cost. (C)
2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.