Vol. 337 No. 7 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/7/5695
Analysis of vortex structures in the mixing head of a syngas generator
Relevance. The efficiency of syngas generators for small-scale methanol production is determined by the quality of mixing of the initial components – methane and oxygen – in the mixing head, which in its turn depends on complex vortex dynamics. Previously an optimal mixing head configuration was proposed; however, the physical mechanisms explaining its advantage and quantitative criteria for comparison with alternative designs were not analyzed in detail. Aim. Comparative analysis of vortex structures in various mixing head configurations and substantiation of the optimal design ensuring maximum mixing completeness with minimum pressure drop and the absence of stagnation zones. Methods. Numerical simulation in the ANSYS Fluent 2020 R2 software package using the standard k-ε turbulence model and the Eddy Dissipation Model. Results and conclusions. Using ten design variants, it is shown that coaxial arrangement of centrifugal injectors leads to the formation of a stable toroidal vortex and an extensive stagnation zone in the chamber center, drastically worsening mixing. Unidirectional swirl of the flows generates a precessing vortex core that blocks mass transfer. Conversely, fuel injection through six jet injectors at an angle of 45° into the cavity of the centrifugal oxidizer injector creates intense shear turbulence, breaks up large-scale vortices, and eliminates the stagnation zone, ensuring complete mixing over a length of 30 mm. The obtained results reveal the physical reasons for the effectiveness of the previously selected optimal configuration.
For citation: Gashevskiy E.M., Kuzmin A.M. Analysis of vortex structures in the mixing head of a syngas generator. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 7, pp. 150-159. https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/7/5695
Keywords:
syngas generator, non-catalytic partial oxidation of methane, mixing head, vortex structures, stagnation zones, precessing vortex core, numerical simulation
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