ABSTRACT
The theoretical understanding of laminar flames, which is extremely well developed, has been the test-bed for the development of many numerical and mathematical tools, and it is the foundation from which many concepts of turbulent combustion emerge. Virtually all practical applications of combustion based on ‘flame propagation’ involve turbulent processes, premixed or otherwise. Turbulent flow may be regarded as random local motions superimposed on the uniform motion of the fluid. Laminar flame theory is set out to establish the uniqueness of the combustion wave, that is, a single burning velocity for a given set of conditions, and to make the numerical prediction, but it is very complicated in rigorous form. There are marked effects on the flame structure and propagation rate if turbulence is created in the gas by supplementary means. The underlying physical conditions for laminar flame let concepts is that molecular rates of transport and chemical reaction predominate over the rate of turbulent fluctuations.
