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We report on an experimental demonstration of spatially-resolved detection of atomic hydrogen in flames using a single-ended configuration yielding 656-nm lasing in the backward direction upon 2-photon pumping with 205-nm femtosecond laser pulses. Spatial resolution is achieved by temporally-resolved detection of the backward lasing using a streak camera. The method is demonstrated in CH4/O2 flames; both in a setup consisting of two flames, with variable spacing between the flames, and in a single flame. Results from the two-flame experiment show that the backward lasing technique is able to determine changes in the separation between the flames as this distance was altered. By maximizing the temporal resolution of the streak camera, obtaining a highest spatial resolution of 1.65 mm, it is possible to resolve the hydrogen signal present in the two reaction zones in the single flame, where the separation between the reaction zones is ∼2 mm. The lasing signal is strong enough to allow single-shot measurements. Results obtained by backward lasing are compared with 2-photon planar laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) images recorded with detection perpendicular to the laser beam path and the results from the two methods qualitatively agree. Although further studies are needed in order to extract quantitative hydrogen concentrations, the present results indicate great potential for spatially resolved single-ended measurements, which would constitute a very valuable asset for combustion diagnostics in intractable geometries with limited optical access. It appears feasible to extend the technique to detection of any species for which resonant two-photon-excited lasing effect has been observed, such as O, N, C, CO and NH3.

Imaging the interaction between different combustion species under turbulent flame conditions requires methods that both are extremely fast and provide means to spectrally separate different signals. Current experimental solutions to achieve this often rely on using several cameras that are time-gated and/or equipped with different spectral filters. In this work we explore a technique called Frequency Recognition Algorithm for Multiple Exposures (FRAME) as an alternative solution for instantaneous multispectral imaging of flame species. The method is based on exciting different species with different spatial “codes” and to separate each signal component using a spatial frequency-sensitive lock-in algorithm. This methodology permits the signal from several different species to be recorded at the exact same time with a single camera. Furthermore, since the signals are recognized based on the superimposed spatial codes, there is no need for spectral separation prior to detection. The entire fluorescence envelope from each species can thus, in principle, be detected. In the current work, we present simultaneous planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging of OH and CH2O in a turbulent dimethyl ether (DME)/air flame.

The ozone (O3) decomposition in the pre-heat zone of flames can initiate and accelerate the chain-branching reactions. In the present study, formaldehyde (CH2O) was investigated by both experiment and simulation methods in methane/air laminar premixed flames under atmospheric conditions. The formaldehyde concentration profiles in the flames were measured with CH2O-PLIF. When 4500 ppm of ozone was added, the formaldehyde concentration in Bunsen type laminar flame was enhanced by 58.5% at fuel-rich condition (I = 1.4) and 15.5% at stoichiometric condition. In the simulation work, the most recent ozone sub-mechanism was coupled with GRI-mech 3.0 kinetic mechanism. It showed that with 4500 ppm ozone addition, the formaldehyde concentration was enhanced by about 48.1% at rich condition (I = 1.4) and about 14.7% in stoichiometric mixture. The simulation suggested an early production of CH2O with ozone addition, especially in rich conditions. These reactions occurred at relatively low temperature, around 500 K. In order to isolate these reactions from the flame, experiments with preheated unburned mixtures were carried out. A larger amount of formaldehyde was produced in the zone far from the flame as the preheating temperature was increased. It indicated that the combustion enhancement with ozone could be caused by the additional reactions of ozone at relatively low temperature. Simulations showed that methoxy radical (CH3O) is the key specie for production of formaldehyde at lower temperatures. Early in the pre-heat zone of the laminar flame, formaldehyde occurs via decomposition of CH3O while in the pre-heated gas mixture via reaction of CH3O with O2. Furthermore, the O3 effect on turbulent flames was investigated showing a greater enhancement in formaldehyde signal than that in the laminar cases. This difference in formaldehyde signal enhancement could be attributed to the expansion of the preheat zone, due to turbulence. (Less)

In plasma-assisted combustion, electric energy is added to the flame where the electric energy will be transferred to kinetic energy of the free electrons that, in turn, will modify the combustion chemical kinetics. In order to increase the understanding of this complex process, the influence of one of the products of the altered chemical kinetics, ozone (O3), has been isolated and studied. This paper reports on studies using a low-swirl methane (CH4) air flame at lean conditions with different concentrations of O3 enrichment. The experimental flame diagnostics include Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of hydroxyl (OH) and formaldehyde (CH2O). The experiments are also modeled using Large Eddy Simulations (LES) with a reaction model based on a skeletal CH4-air reaction mechanism combined with an O3 sub-mechanism to include the presence of O3 in the flame. This reaction mechanism is based on fundamental considerations including reactions between O3 and all other species involved. The experiments reveal an increase in CH2O in the low-swirl flame as small amounts of O3 is supplied to the CH4-air stream upstream of the flame. This increase is well predicted by the LES computations and the relative radical concentration shift is in good agreement with experimental data. Simulations also reveal that the O3 enrichment increase the laminar flame speed, su, with ∼10% and the extinction strain-rate, Iext, with ∼20%, for 0.57% (by volume) O3. The increase in Iext enables the O3 seeded flame to burn under more turbulent conditions than would be possible without O3 enrichment. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the increase in Iext due to O3 enrichment is primarily due to the accelerated chain-branching reactions H 2 + O â OH + H , H 2 O + O â OH + OH and H + O 2 â OH + O . Furthermore, the increase in CH2O observed in both experiments and simulations suggest a significant acceleration of the chain-propagation reaction CH 3 + O â CH 2 O + H . (Less)

A novel method for two-dimensional fluorescence lifetime imaging is presented. The technique is demonstrated on averaged planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) signals recorded in a flame. Although demonstrated on averaged images, the concept applies equally well to single-shot images. Formaldehyde was probed through pico-second excitation at 355 nm in a rich methane/oxygen flame (Phi = 2.6). Images were recorded with a dual ICCD camera detection setup with different gate characteristics of the two cameras. The recorded images were analyzed using simulated values of LIF signal detection to generate two-dimensional images of effective lifetimes. Measured lifetimes range from roughly 1 to 4.5 ns. The lifetime image data were used for quenching correction of the LIF images, which, after correction, showed better qualitative agreement compared to a formaldehyde concentration profile simulated with the GRI 3.0 mechanism. (C) 2010 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Less)

Direct ozone (O-3) injection is a promising flue-gas treatment technology based on oxidation of NO and Hg into soluble species like NO2, NO3, N2O5, oxidized mercury, etc. These product gases are then effectively removed from the flue gases with the wet flue gas desulfurization system for SO2. The kinetics and mixing behaviors of the oxidation process are important phenomena in development of practical applications. In this work, planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of NO and NO2 was utilized to investigate the reaction structures between a turbulent O-3 jet (dry air with 2000 ppm O-3) and a laminar co-flow of simulated flue gas (containing 200 ppm NO), prepared in co-axial tubes. The shape of the reaction zone and the NO conversion rate along with the downstream length were determined from the NO-PLIF measurements. About 62% of NO was oxidized at 15d (d, jet orifice diameter) by a 30 m/s O-3 jet with an influence width of about 6d in radius. The NO2 PLIF results support the conclusions deduced from the NO-PLIF measurements. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)