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Direct numerical simulation of premixed hydrogen-air flames subject to thermodiffusive effects in a fully developed turbulent channel flow at Reτ=530

Felix Rong*, Max Schneider, Hendrik Nicolai, and Christian Hasse

Andrea Gruber

  • *Contact author: rong@stfs.tu-darmstadt.de
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 093202 – Published 24 September, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/g5vm-6xjr

Abstract

Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of premixed hydrogen-air flames anchored in a fully developed turbulent channel flow (TCF) are performed at a friction Reynolds number of Reτ=530 and thermochemical conditions susceptible to the emergence of intrinsic thermodiffusive (TD) phenomena acting on the turbulent flame. Two premixed flames are studied: a slower flame (φ=0.25), predominantly propagating within the core flow, and a faster one (φ=0.35), reaching closer to the channel walls and intermittently quenching on it. The present DNS database provides new insights into the characteristics of premixed flames susceptible to TD phenomena and propagating in realistic near-wall shear turbulence. The influence of varying turbulence intensity, and of wall-distance dependent time and length scales, on the flame propagation characteristics is evaluated through a detailed analysis of the local stretch factor I0, quantifying reactivity enhancements caused by TD phenomena. At φ=0.25, the flame response to the fluid motions is mainly forced by the weaker turbulence present in the core flow. This results in an augmented I0 compared to the laminar reference value, suggesting reactivity enhancement by the strongly nonlinear interaction of TD phenomena with (relatively) weak turbulent motions present within the core flow. At φ=0.35, as the flame propagates from the core flow towards the channel walls, the flame response is forced by turbulence of increasing intensity, resulting in a corresponding augmentation of the Karlovitz number. Crucially, as the flame propagates into the near-wall region, the peak value of I0 is colocated with the peak Reynolds stresses (y+∼10). This observation suggests a strong (local) synergistic interaction between TD phenomena and wall turbulence, ultimately resulting in significantly enhanced flame speed.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 093202– Published 24 September, 2026
  • Received 8 December 2025
  • Accepted 31 August 2026
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