Effect of crosswind on the blowout limit of hydrogen-blended natural gas horizontal jet flame

In the context of advancing the green transition of energy, hydrogen-blended fuels have the potential to significantly reduce pollutant emissions and emerge as one of the most promising applications of hydrogen energy in the future. However, the influence of hydrogen blending on the physical and chemical properties of mixed fuels has not been fully understood, particularly with regard to the mechanisms underlying jet flame destabilization at varying hydrogen blending ratios, especially under the influence of crosswinds. In this study, the blowout behavior of hydrogen-methane mixtures in horizontal jet flames is systematically investigated, considering different hydrogen blending ratios (0%–30 %), nozzle diameters (2–4 mm), and fuel jet velocities (18–85 m/s) in the presence of crosswinds. The results demonstrate that the blowout limit increases with both the fuel jet velocity and the hydrogen blending ratio. However, within a specific range of fuel jet velocities (20–35 m/s), the effect of crosswind velocity on the blowout limit remains relatively insignificant, even as the hydrogen blending ratio increases. The increase in the hydrogen blending ratio leads to significant alterations in both the temperature and velocity fields of the flame. Notably, the region of the velocity gradient becomes more compressed with higher hydrogen content. Furthermore, a predictive model for the blowout limit of horizontal jet diffusion flames with varying hydrogen-methane blends is proposed, based on the Damköhler number, which accounts for the changes in laminar burning velocity. These findings offer valuable insights into the stability of non-premixed combustion of hydrogen-blended fuels and the flame blowout limits under crosswind conditions, advancing our understanding of combustion characteristics in hydrogen-enriched fuel systems.