Strategy to diagnose ultra-lean (ϕ < 0.6) premixed flames by acetone-OH simultaneous PLIF with one-laser and one-detector combination

Abstract  

A strategy to diagnose ultra-lean flames utilizing the “acetone-OH simultaneous PLIF” concept via a one-laser and one-detector combination system is presented. The main aim of the present work is to overcome difficulties encountered in our previous studies; namely, that the seeding amount of acetone used for visualization purposes must be sufficiently small in order to avoid its effect on flame structure (at least <5% of fuel), while clear imaging also must be accomplished under such conditions. For this purpose, several important revisions have been made: (1) the 266-nm excitation line has been added to improve the fluorescence from acetone, (2) a dual-peak band-pass filter has been introduced instead of conventional blue filter and (3) controllability of fine acetone seeding has been improved. The effects of these changes on flame imaging are also investigated. Clear visualization of the flame zone of a very lean premixed flame, of which the limiting equivalence ratio is below 0.6, has been successfully achieved for the first time with one-laser and one-detector system. The time-dependent, near-extinction flame behavior is also clearly imaged, suggesting that this method could utilize to investigate the flame extinction study.     

Investigation of non-premixed flame combustion characters in GO_2/GH_2 shear coaxial injectors using non-intrusive optical diagnostics

Single-element combustor experiments are conducted for three shear coaxial geometry configuration injectors by using gaseous oxygen and gaseous hydrogen(GO2/GH2) as propellants. During the combustion process, several spatially and time- resolved non-intrusive optical techniques, such as OH planar laser induced fluorescence(PLIF), high speed imaging, and infrared imaging, are simultaneously employed to observe the OH radical concentration distribution, flame fluctuations, and temperature fields. The results demonstrate that the turbulent flow phenomenon of non-premixed flame exhibits a remarkable periodicity, and the mixing ratio becomes a crucial factor to influence the combustion flame length. The high speed and infrared images have a consistent temperature field trend. As for the OH-PLIF images, an intuitionistic local flame structure is revealed by single-shot instantaneous images. Furthermore, the means and standard deviations of OH radical intensity are acquired to provide statistical information regarding the flame, which may be helpful for validation of numerical simulations in future. Parameters of structure configurations, such as impinging angle and oxygen post thickness, play an important role in the reaction zone distribution. Based on a successful flame contour extraction method assembled with non-linear anisotropic diffusive filtering and variational level-set, it is possible to implement a fractal analysis to describe the fractal characteristics of the non-premixed flame contour. As a result, the flame front cannot be regarded as a fractal object. However, this turbulent process presents a self-similarity characteristic.     

Imaging of the reaction zone in a 100 kW oil-burning furnace by use of a broad-band excimer laser

The reaction zone in the hostile combustion environment of a 100 kW oil-burning furnace has been imaged by laser-induced fluorescence using a broad-band XeCl-excimer laser. Upon excitation, the averaged images obtained by using an interference filter around 320 nm (FWHM of 10 nm) show three distinct areas along the direction of the gas flow. An intense emission spreads around the spray axis and is attributed to the fluorescence of large hydrocarbons in the unburned fuel. Approximately 12 cm downstream of the nozzle, a narrow dark region is displayed suggesting the preheat zone of the combustion process where large hydrocarbons are considerably degraded. The third distinct region is characterized by a strong onset of the fluorescence intensity localized downstream of the dark region. This feature is strongly suppressed by replacing the interference filter by a broad-band transmission filter passing light from 350 to 500 nm. Since OH strongly absorbs at the laser wavelength and its fluorescence is significantly lower above 345 nm, the findings imply that the major contribution to the observed intensity in this region originates from the OH radical. This molecule reaches its maximum concentration immediately downstream of the flame front. However, a contribution from other flame species fluorescing around 320 nm cannot be ruled out. Nevertheless, the combined spatial and spectral information obtained imply that the reaction zone of the combustion process can be localized accurately. The results are compared with simultaneously performed numerical simulations of the burner and are in reasonable agreement.     

甲烷/氧气层流同轴射流扩散火焰OH*自由基的数值研究

OH*自由基是火焰中主要的激发态自由基之一,它所产生的化学发光可用于描述火焰的结构、拉伸率、氧燃当量比和热释放速率等特征信息,因此被广泛应用于火焰燃烧状态的在线诊断。以甲烷/氧气层流同轴射流扩散火焰作为研究对象,采用GRI-Mech 3.0机理结合OH*自由基生成和淬灭反应进行数值计算,对OH*自由基的二维分布特性进行研究,分析不同区域内OH*自由基的生成路径,并探讨不同氧燃当量比例和不同喷嘴出口尺寸对OH*自由基强度和分布特性的影响。模拟结果与实验研究基本吻合,表明计算模型能够准确描述火焰中OH*自由基的二维分布。结果表明：在甲烷/氧气层流同轴射流扩散火焰中,OH*自由基存在两种不同形态的分布区域,分别由反应CH+O₂=OH*+CO和H+O+M=OH*+M生成;随着氧燃当量比提高,OH*自由基的分布区域逐渐向火焰下游扩张,根据其分布形态的变化可以对火焰燃烧状况进行判断;如果OH*自由基仅分布于火焰的上游区域且呈断开形态,则说明火焰处于贫氧燃烧状态。如果OH*分布呈环状形态,则说明火焰处于富氧燃烧状态;相同氧气流量条件下,缩小喷嘴出口的环隙尺寸有助于加强燃料和氧气的化学反应程度,从而使火焰中OH*自由基的摩尔分数显著提高,增强OH*化学发光的辐射强度,提高火焰光谱诊断的准确性。     

Flame-acoustic response measurements in a high-pressure, 42-injector,cryogenic rocket thrust chamber

This work presents measurements of acoustically driven flame dynamics in a 42-element, cryogenic oxygen-hydrogen rocket thrust chamber under supercritical injection conditions. The experiment shows self-excited combustion instabilities for certain operating conditions, and this work describes the nature of the flame dynamics driving the acoustic field, as far as it can be ascertained from state-of-the-art optical measurements. Optical access has been realized in the combustion chamber with both fibre-optical probes and a viewing window. The probes collect point-like measurements of filtered OH* radiation. Their signals were used to calculate the gain and phase of intensity oscillations with respect to acoustic pressure for both stable and unstable operating conditions. Through the window, synchronized high-speed imaging of the flame in filtered OH* and blue radiation wavelengths was collected. The 2D flame response was related to the local acoustic pressure to investigate the distributed intensity and phase relationships. The flame response from OH* measurements is in agreement with the theory of Rayleigh. For stable conditions the oscillations of combustion and pressure were out of phase, whereas for an excited chamber 1T mode the oscillations were closely in phase. The integrated Rayleigh index from blue imaging was not consistent with the OH* results. The reason lies in the depth of field captured by this type of imaging, and must be used in a complementary fashion together with OH* imaging. The flame response values and 2D visualization presented in this work are expected to be of value for the validation of numerical modelling of combustion instabilities.     

Application of advanced laser diagnostics for the investigation of the ionization sensor signal in a combustion bomb

The ionization sensor is an electrical probe for diagnostics in internal combustion engines. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) imaging of fuel, hydroxyl (OH), and nitric oxide (NO) distributions has been employed to extend our knowledge about the governing processes leading to its signal. By monitoring the flame propagation in quiescent and turbulent mixtures, the cycle-to-cycle variations in the early sensor signal was attributed to the stochastic contact between flame front and electrodes. An analysis of the relationship between gas temperature and sensor current in the post-flame gas suggests a dominant role of alkali traces in the ionization process at the conditions under study. Significant cooling of the burned gas in the vicinity of the electrodes was observed in quiescent mixtures. Imaging of the post-flame gas in turbulent combustion revealed moving structures with varying NO and OH concentrations, which were identified as sources of variation in the sensor current. PACS 51.50.+v; 42.62.Fi; 47.27.-i     

显示OH浓度分布图像的平面激光诱导荧光技术

用平面激光诱导荧光 (PLIF)技术测量平面火焰炉、狭缝火焰炉的单脉冲激光诱导OH荧光。由平面荧光图可得到氢氧基相对浓度分布和它的宽度。对于扩散火焰 ,高温区在OH带内侧 ;而对于预混火焰 ,二者基本一致。湍流火焰的PLIF图则清晰地显示出火焰面的不规则性。氢氧基的PLIF图像是研究火焰结构和流场的有力工具。     

The effect of fuel inlet turbulence intensity on H2/CH4 flame structure of MILD combustion using the LES method

Large eddy simulations (LES) are employed to investigate the effect of the inlet turbulence intensity on the H₂/CH₄ flame structure in a hot and diluted co-flow stream which emulates the (Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution) MILD combustion regime. In this regard, three fuel inlet turbulence intensity profiles with the values of 4%, 7% and 10% are superimposed on the annular mixing layer. The effects of these changes on the flame structure under the MILD condition are studied for two oxygen concentrations of 3% and 9% (by mass) in the oxidiser stream and three hot co-flow temperatures 1300, 1500 and 1750 K. The turbulence-chemistry interaction of the numerically unresolved scales is modelled using the (Partially Stirred Reactor) PaSR method, where the full mechanism of GRI-2.11 represents the chemical reactions. The influences of the turbulence intensity on the flame structure under the MILD condition are studied by using the profile of temperature, CO and OH mass fractions in both physical and mixture fraction spaces at two downstream locations. Also, the effects of this parameter are investigated by contours of OH, HCO and CH₂O radicals in an area near the nozzle exit zone. Results show that increasing the fuel inlet turbulence intensity has a profound effect on the flame structure particularly at low oxygen mass fraction. This increment weakens the combustion zone and results in a decrease in the peak values of the flame temperature and OH and CO mass fractions. Furthermore, increasing the inlet turbulence intensity decreases the flame thickness, and increases the MILD flame instability and diffusion of un-burnt fuel through the flame front. These effects are reduced by increasing the hot co-flow temperature which reinforces the reaction zone.     

燃料敏感性对内燃机部分预混燃烧(PPC)光谱特性的影响研究

在一台光学发动机上,利用火焰高速成像技术和自发光光谱分析法,研究了燃料敏感性(S)为0和6时对发动机缸内火焰发展和燃烧发光光谱的影响。试验过程中,通过改变喷油时刻 (SOI=-25,-15和-5°CA ATDC) 使燃烧模式从部分预混燃烧过渡到传统柴油燃烧模式。通过使用正庚烷、异辛烷、乙醇混合燃料来改变燃料敏感性。结果表明,在PPC模式下(-25°CA ATDC),火焰发展过程是从近壁面区域开始着火,而后向燃烧室中心发展,即存在类似火焰传播过程,同时在燃烧室下部未燃区域也形成新的着火自燃点。敏感性对燃烧相位影响较大,对缸内燃烧火焰发展历程影响较小;高敏感性燃料OH和CH带状光谱出现的时刻推迟,表明高敏感性燃料高温反应过程推迟,且光谱强度更低,表明碳烟辐射强度减弱。在PPC到CDC之间的过渡区域(-15°CA ATDC),燃烧火焰发光更亮,燃烧反应速率比-25°CA ATDC时刻的反应速率更快。高、低敏感性燃料对缸压放热率的影响规律与-25°CA ATDC相近,此时的燃烧反应更剧烈,放热率更高,碳烟出现时刻更早。该喷油时刻下的光谱强度高于PPC模式下的光谱强度,说明此时的CO氧化反应与碳烟辐射更强。在CDC模式下(-5°CA ATDC),由于使用的燃料活性较低,燃烧放热时刻过于推迟,放热量很小,缸内燃烧压力低,因此燃料敏感性对缸压和放热率的影响不明显,但从燃烧着火图像中可以看到高敏感性燃料的火焰出现时刻较低敏感性燃料推迟。低敏感性燃料的燃烧初期蓝色火焰首先出现在燃烧室中心,着火火焰出现时刻更早,之后蓝色火焰从中心向周围扩散,呈现火焰传播为主导的燃烧过程;燃烧后期,局部混合气过浓区导致亮黄色火焰面积逐渐增大并向周围扩散。高敏感性燃料的火焰发展趋势与低敏感性燃料类似,黄色火焰的亮度与面积更小。尽管高、低敏感性燃料的OH和CH带状光谱的出现时间相近,但高敏感性燃料的光谱强度仍更低。综合分析,火焰发展结构与自发光光谱特征主要受喷油时刻的影响,燃料的敏感性主要影响着火时刻和火焰自发光光谱强度,且高敏感性燃料的光谱强度更低。     

Structure and dynamic behavior of combustion visualized by 2-D laser diagnostics

This paper describes studies of structure and dynamic behavior of combustion by use of laser-aided two-dimensional flame visualization. Attentions are given to the recent development of the laser sheet imaging techniques of velocity, temperature and concentration and its application to flame visualization. Visualization of turbulent diffusion flames by use of RIV (Rayleigh scattering Image Velocimetry) and OH-PLIF conducted by the authors are presented together with the short review of laser diagnostics of combustion.     

基于激光光解诱导荧光技术实现燃烧反应区及中间产物CH_3瞬态可视化

实现火焰反应区和不同中间组分的在线二维瞬态成像,在湍流燃烧的基础研究中具有十分重要的意义。用Nd∶YAG激光器的5倍频输出(212.8nm)作为光源,通过激光光解诱导荧光技术在甲烷/空气预混火焰中,成功实现了火焰反应区的瞬态成像,并首次采用该技术实现了CH_3的在线瞬态成像测量。分析了该方法同其他荧光标示物在反应区二维瞬态成像方法的优势,并研究了火焰燃烧过程中其他燃烧中间产物和不同燃空比对CH_3单脉冲成像的影响,讨论了现有条件下该技术的应用范围。根据实验结果,在燃空比Φ=1.2的条件下,在反应区我们获得了信噪比约为8的单脉冲成像,分析火焰中CH_3的单脉冲成像结果可知火焰燃空比在1.0~1.4之间时,或者火焰中CH_3的浓度大于9.3×1015 molecules·cm-3信噪比较好。该项技术在动力机械及其他研究领域的应用有十分重要的参考价值。     

Simultaneous high speed PIV and CH PLIF using R-branch excitation in the C2Σ+-X2Π (0,0) band

Simultaneous particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) utilizing R-branch transitions in the C-X (0,0) band were performed at a 10-kHz repetition-rate in a turbulent premixed flame. The CH lines at 310.690?nm (from the R-branch of the C-X band) used here have greater efficiency than A-X and B-X transitions, which allows for high-framerate imaging with low laser pulse energy. Most importantly, the simultaneous imaging of both CH PLIF and PIV is enabled by the use of a custom edge filter, which blocks scattering at the laser wavelength (below ～311?nm) while efficiently transmitting fluorescence at longer wavelengths. The Hi-Pilot Bunsen burner operated with a turbulent Reynolds number of 7900 was used to demonstrate simultaneous PIV and CH PLIF utilizing this filtered detection scheme. Instances where pockets of products were observed well upstream of the mean flame brush are found to be the result of out-of-plane motion of the flame sheet. Such instances can lead to ambiguous results when interpreting the thickness of reaction layers. However, the temporally resolved nature of the present diagnostics facilitate the identification and proper treatment of such situations. The strategy demonstrated here can yield important information in the study of turbulent flames by providing temporally resolved flame dynamics in terms of flame sheet visualization and velocity fields.     

Planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging of OH in a supersonic combustor fueled with ethylene and methane

A supersonic combustor was experimentally investigated using both conventional instrumentation and laser-based diagnostics. Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of OH was used in the main section of the combustor to examine flameholding and flame propagation during a series of evaluations at conditions simulating Mach-5.5 flight. Parameters of interest in this study included the angle of the primary fuel injectors, the distribution of fuel throughout the combustor, and the fuel composition. Changes in fuel-injection angle were expected to influence the mixing and combustion processes, and therefore combustor operation. Fuel-distribution variations were expected to modify the flame propagation between flameholding regions. Finally, ethylene and methane were used to examine the suitability of the flameholder designs over a wide range of fuel reactivity. Results suggest that the combustor provides relatively robust flameholding regardless of the fuel used and good flame propagation as long as the fuel distribution provides favorable conditions in the flameholding regions. In addition, the results show that the primary injectors can be useful in controlling certain aspects of combustor operability.     

Dual/scram-mode combustion limits of ethylene and surrogate endothermically-cracked hydrocarbon fuels at Mach 8 equivalent high-enthalpy conditions

This paper examines the scram/dual-mode combustion limits of hydrocabon fuels within a Mach 8, scramjet combustor. Flight-equivalent flows were delivered to the axisymmetric, cavity combustor via a reflected shock tunnel. Two scramjet fuels were examined: ethylene and a surrogate mixture representing endothermically cracked n-dodecane. Combustion modes were examined via static pressure sensors and through both chemiluminescence imaging, and planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) of the OH combustion radical in the combustor exhaust plume. Ethylene-fuelled experiments developed scram-mode combustion under reduced fuelling conditions, experiencing shock wave dominated flowfields. OH PLIF diagnostics indicated such combustion modes developed a ring-like structure of combustion products, primarily axisymmetrically adjacent to the combustor wall. Increased fuelling anchored combustion downstream of the fuel injector, while further increases instigated dual-mode combustion. In this mode, subsonic combustion regions combine with the supersonic coreflow to permit the transfer of information upstream with substantially increased pressure encountered. Optical diagnostics indicate broadly asymmetric, unsteady combustion features. The surrogate mixture representing endothermically cracked n-dodecane experienced rapid onset from no-combustion (optically confirmed) to fully developed dual-mode combustion at critical fuelling rates. OH PLIF signals and chemiluminescence of this fuel were weaker than comparable ethylene cases, indicating potential differences in combustion pathways.     

一种测量发光火焰温度的数据处理方法研究

火焰温度是燃烧诊断的重要参数之一,它对研究各种燃烧过程具有重要价值。根据多光谱辐射测温所用的参考温度数学模型,提出了一种基于遗传算法的新的数据处理方法。该方法对火焰发射率与波长的关系依次进行了三点直线拟合,并通过遗传算法进行了优化,从而得到了发光火焰的温度和发射率。采用多波长高温计测量了某种固体推进剂燃烧火焰的自辐射光谱,并进行了数据处理。计算结果表明:火焰温度计算值与理论值之差在±100K以内;这种基于遗传算法的新的数据处理方法是测量发光火焰温度的一种可行性方法。     

Resolving flame thickness using high-speed chemiluminescence imaging of OH* and CH* in spherically expanding methane–air flames

The coupling of CFD simulations with detailed chemical kinetics presents great progress in predicting the complex behavior of reacting flows, but also requires validated input parameters in the form of experimental data. The spatial profile of a combustion wave represents one such parameter, which can be directly measured using chemiluminescence imaging of a spherically expanding flame. In this work, emission signals from electronically excited methylidyne (CH*) and hydroxyl (OH*) radicals near 434 nm and 315 nm, respectively, from spherically expanding methane–air flames at 1 atm and 298 K were recorded for equivalence ratios of 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2. Spatial profiles of normalized intensity were compared to predicted profiles from AramcoMech2.0. The effect of image resolution was investigated by repeating experiments for three levels of image pixel density. An Abel inversion was employed to extract intensity profiles of CH* and OH* at flame radii up to 6.5 cm. Measured flame thickness increased as flames grew in size, but this behavior diminished as image resolution increased. A linear stretch correlation was used to extrapolate measured thicknesses to an unstretched thickness for each experimental condition. Radical-based flame thicknesses and corresponding spatial profiles were found to be highly dependent on image resolution, and at high resolution, measured flame thickness appeared to approach the kinetically predicted radical-based thicknesses. This paper lays the foundation for future, comprehensive measurements of spherical, laminar flames that can resolve the flame zone details to a level of precision not typically seen in the literature, providing benchmark data for both kinetics model validation and CFD model inputs. As a result, the measurements thus far indicate that the measured flame zone thickness based on electronically excited species is much closer to the length scale typically predicted by kinetics models than what has been seen in most experiments to date.     

Impact of coolant temperature on piston wall-wetting and smoke generation in a stratified-charge DISI engine operated on E30 fuel

A late-injection strategy is typically adopted in stratified-charge direct injection spark ignition (DISI) engines to improve combustion stability for lean operation, but this may induce wall wetting on the piston surface and result in high soot emissions. E30 fuel, i.e., gasoline with 30% ethanol, is a potential alternative fuel that can offer a high Research Octane Number. However, the relatively high ethanol content increases the heat of vaporization, potentially exacerbating wall-wetting issues in DISI engines. In this study, the Refractive Index Matching (RIM) technique is used to measure fuel wall films in the piston bowl. The RIM implementation uses a novel LED illumination, integrated in the piston assembly and providing side illumination of the piston-bowl window. This RIM diagnostics in combination with high-speed imaging was used to investigate the impact of coolant temperature on the characteristics of wall wetting and combustion in an optical DISI engine fueled with E30. The experiments reveal that the smoke emissions increase drastically from 0.068 FSN to 1.14 FSN when the coolant temperature is reduced from 90 °C to 45 °C. Consistent with this finding, natural flame luminosity imaging reveals elevated soot incandescence with a reduction of the coolant temperature, indicative of pool fires. The RIM diagnostics show that a lower coolant temperature also leads to increased fuel film thickness, area, and volume, explaining the onset of pool fires and smoke.     

基于激光诱导偏振光谱与激光诱导荧光技术的CH4/AIR火焰参数测量

建立了激光诱导偏振光谱（LIPS）和激光诱导荧光（LIF）联合的燃烧流场诊断系统,测量了CH4/AIR预混火焰中心不同高度处的OH荧光光谱和激光诱导偏振光谱,计算了OH的浓度及燃烧场温度分布。分析了燃烧炉表面对荧光收集效率的影响,并对两种技术的测量数据进行了分析比对,获得了火焰中心OH密度的分布规律。实验结果表明,联合LIPS和LIF两种技术测量CH4/AIR预混火焰参数是可行的,两种技术测量结果的一致性较好,OH浓度的相对偏差小于5%,温度的相对偏差小于8%。     

Effect of electric fields on the ion current signals in a constant volume combustion chamber

Ion current sensing has the potential to become a promising combustion diagnostic technique for mass productive engines. In this paper, the effect of electric fields on ion current signals measured from a series of methane/air flames in a constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) is investigated both experimentally and numerically. Based on simultaneous flame Schlieren imaging and ion current measurement, the relation between the flame/electrodes contact area and the ion current signal waveform is explored under different electric field configurations. A CFD model, which incorporates flame plasma hydrodynamics, neutral/charged species reaction kinetics and ion-electric field interactions, is constructed. The effect of the electric field on the ion distribution and the charged species flux are analyzed, and the signal amplitude and timing are well predicted under the equivalence ratio range of Ф?=?0.7–1.1. Besides, the behavior of electrons, which is normally neglected in previous studies, is also analyzed in this work. The results show that it will affect the signal as well. The electron produced in the flame front zone can hardly diffuse into the pre-flame zone (<?350?K) even its mobility is 3-4 order higher than those of the positive ions. Therefore, the anode of the ion probe, which placed in the pre-flame zone, cannot detect the ion current signal until it contacts the flame front.     

Simultaneous planar measurements of soot structure and velocity fields in a turbulent lifted jet flame at 3 kHz

We describe a newly developed combustion diagnostic for the simultaneous planar imaging of soot structure and velocity fields in a highly sooting, lifted turbulent jet flame at 3000 frames per second, or two orders of magnitude faster than “conventional” laser imaging systems. This diagnostic uses short pulse duration (8 ns), frequency-doubled, diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) lasers to excite laser-induced incandescence (LII) at 3 kHz, which is then imaged onto a high framerate CMOS camera. A second (dual-cavity) DPSS laser and CMOS camera form the basis of a particle image velocity (PIV) system used to acquire 2-component velocity field in the flame. The LII response curve (measured in a laminar propane diffusion flame) is presented and the combined diagnostics then applied in a heavily sooting lifted turbulent jet flame. The potential challenges and rewards of application of this combined imaging technique at high speeds are discussed.