Numerical Simulations of Spontaneous Ignition of High-Pressure Hydrogen Based on Detailed Chemical Kinetics

A two-dimensional (2-D) simulation of spontaneous ignition of high-pressure hydrogen in a length of duct is conducted in order to explore its underlying ignition mechanisms. The present study adopts a 2-D rectangular duct (i.e., not axisymmetric geometry) and focuses on the effects of initial diaphragm shape on the spontaneous ignitions. The Navier-Stokes equations with a detailed chemical kinetics mechanism are solved in a manner of direct numerical simulation. The detailed mechanisms of spontaneous ignition are discussed for each initial diaphragm shape. For a straight diaphragm shape, it is found that the ignition occurs only near the wall due to the adiabatic wall condition, while the three ignition events: ignitions due to leading shock wave reflection at the wall, hydrogen penetration into shock-heated air near the wall, and deep penetration of hydrogen into shock-heated air behind the leading shock wave are identified for a largely deformed diaphragm shape.