Effect of vortex restructuring on heat transfer in an “inverted” flame

The papers deals with formation of vortex structures during combustion of a fuel gas–air mixture injected vertically down through a hole in a flat plate. It has been established that the shape, position, and number of vortex cells are determined by the flow rate and composition of the fuel mixture. It is shown that as the flow rate increases from the minimum critical value for which a vortex structure arises, the number of vortex cells decreases from five or six to one. A further increase in the gas flow rate leads to transition to turbulence of the combustion product flow. The presence of a vortex structure increases the critical Reynolds number at which the flow becomes turbulent. Reverse transition to the structure with an increased number of vortex cells occurs with a delay in the gas flow rate (gas discharge hysteresis). Variation in flow rate is accompanied by bifurcation of the number of vortex cells.