Experimental investigation of the effect of the electromagnetic field on the stability of the hydrogen enriched methane flame under acoustic enforcement

The current research has investigated the effects of magnetic fields on molecular structures, especially on flame formation, flame behavior and emission gases. This study particularly examines the phenomenon of combustion instability and emission characteristics of CH4 and CH4/H2 fuels under lean combustion conditions and under external acoustic forcing. Conducted within a combustor utilizing premixing and swirl techniques, experiments strategically generated magnetic fields in specific regions: the burner input, pre-mixer, and fuel supply lines. Trials maintained a constant magnetic field intensity of 3500 gauss, with a thermal output of 3 kW, swirl number of 1, and equivalency ratio of 0.7. Evaluation of acoustic resonance was performed at 95 Hz and 175 Hz frequencies within the combustion chamber. Findings suggest that applying a magnetic field positively impacts the combustion process, reducing instabilities in fuels like CH4 and CH4/H2, especially at a 95 Hz frequency. During pure methane combustion, CO emissions initially measured 4785 ppm but decreased to 4143 ppm under the magnetic field’s influence. Introducing the magnetic field to the pre-mixer increased CO emissions to 4233 ppm, while its application to the fuel line reduced emissions to 4104 ppm. For the CH4/H2 fuel mix, CO emissions decreased from 2638 ppm to 1961 ppm with the magnetic field, indicating improved combustion and reduced pollutant gases, including CO and NOx. This study highlights the potential of magnetic fields to improve combustion efficiency and address environmental concerns.