The effects of elevated pressure on soot formation in laminar diffusion flames

L. L. McCrain, W. L. Roberts

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Soot volume fraction (fsv) is measured quantitatively in a laminar diffusion flame at elevated pressures up to 25 atmospheres as a function of fuel type in order to gain a better understanding of the effects of pressure on the soot formation process. Methane and ethylene are used as fuels; methane is chosen since it is the simplest hydrocarbon while ethylene represents a larger hydrocarbon with a higher propensity to soot. Soot continues to be of interest because it is a sensitive indicator of the interactions between combustion chemistry and fluid mechanics and a known pollutant. To examine the effects of increased pressure on soot formation, Laser Induced Incandescence (LII) is used to obtain the desired temporally and spatially resolved, instantaneous fsv measurements as the pressure is incrementally increased up to 25 atmospheres. The effects of pressure on the physical characteristics of the flame are also observed. A laser light extinction method that accounts for signal trapping and laser attenuation is used for calibration that results in quantitative results. The local peak fsv is found to scale with pressure as p1.2 for methane and p1.7 for ethylene.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit
StatePublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes
Event39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit 2003 - Huntsville, AL, United States
Duration: Jul 20 2003Jul 23 2003

Publication series

Name39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit

Other

Other39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit 2003
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHuntsville, AL
Period07/20/0307/23/03

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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