A numerical algorithm for flame propagation in premixed gases

The propagation speed of a premixed laminar flame or a weak deflagration wa ve is not uniquely determined in the hyperbolic theory of reactive gas flow . in this paper, we take a hyperbolic system of conservation laws as a gove rning system of equations for reacting gases and propose an algorithm to de termine a wave propagation speed uniquely. The wave speed and states around a flame are computed through solving a Riemann problem near a flame in the phase space. The Riemann problem can be solved by combining the informatio n from the internal wave structure, which is ignored in the hyperbolic appr oximation, and characteristic information. Therefore, the wave speed comes to depend on the internal variables such as viscosity and diffusion. This m ethod can be used to track a premixed laminar flame when combined with any front tracking method. Some computational results are also presented. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.