The Damköhler number is defined to be the characteristic mixing time (which is how

long it takes for the fluid to mix and its value is approximately equal to the turbulent
integral timescale) divided by the characteristic chemical time (which is how long it
takes for the chemical reactions to occur).
Since you're just trying to check whether Da >> 1, you can approximate the
characteristic mixing time by the turbulent integral timescale. Depending on how
your boundary conditions define turbulence, this can be computed many different
ways. The classic definition is to divide the turbulent kinetic energy (k) by the
turbulent dissipation (epsilon). You can also estimate it by dividing the integral
length scale by the velocity fluctuations (the velocity fluctuations are by definition
the Turbulent Intensity multiplied by the Mean Velocity).
The characteristic chemical time is a bit more tricky to get. It can be defined to be
the laminar flame thickness divided by the laminar flame speed, but these values are
very dependent on your conditions, e.g. pressure and temperature. You can obtain
the values from a search through the academic literature. I did a google search for
"laminar flame thickness methane" and the first hit looked like it might be
useful: www.combustion.org.uk/ECM_2007/ecm2007_papers/6-7.pdf
In the end, you're only needing an approximation, so don't be too rigorous with your
calculations: just get numbers that are reasonable.
The Damköhler numbers (Da) are dimensionless numbers used in chemical
engineering to relate the chemical reaction timescale (reaction rate) to the transport
phenomena rate occurring in a system. It is named after German chemist Gerhard
Damköhler. The Karlovitz number (Ka) is related to the Damköhler number by
Da = 1/Ka.
In its most commonly used form, the Damköhler number relates the reaction
timescale to the convection time scale, volumetric flow rate, through the reactor for
continuous (plug flow or stirred tank) or semibatch chemical processes:
The value of Da provides a quick estimate of the degree of conversion that can be
achieved. As a rule of thumb, when Da is less than 0.1 a conversion of less than
10% is achieved, and when Da is greater than 10 a conversion of more than 90% is
expected.
A detailed description of Damkohlers number can be found in (1) Combustion theory - Willams F. A. (2)
Fundamentals of Combustion- Linan (3) Chemistry problems in combustion (something likethat)-
S. Penner Also a recent paper by Katta, V. et. al in combustion and flame/combustion Symposium
discusses Soret effects in hydrogen flames.
There is another good paper by Penner, something like "Similarity Parameters in..." was published in a
Combustion Symposium couple of years back. I will try to find the exact title.
My understanding is that Damkohlers number (Da)can be defined as factor that determines if the
reaction rate is chemical controlled or diffusion controlled.
Da = (mixing time scale)/(chemical reaction time scale)
(a) in premixed combustion mixing time scale << chemical reaction time scale. Da tends to 0. So in
premixed combustion rate of heat generated depends on the chemical time scale.
(b) similarly in non-premixed combustion reaction mixing time scale >> chemical reaction time scale. Da
tends to infinity. So non-premixed combustion is diffusion controlled.
According to Willams (see combustion theory) Soret effect has little influence on diffusion flames. But it
was been reported by Katta et. all that it does have an significant effect.