Measurements of the local temperature correlation time in a turbulent flame using coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

The feasibility to determine the timescale of pulsations of “instantaneous” local temperatures in a turbulent flame at a microsecond time scale by using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. A laboratory laser measurement complex was utilized, based on two CARS-spectrometers employing synchronized pulse-repetitive lasers with 10 ns pulse duration. The system enabled to record, with high temporal resolution (in one single laser shot) and at a variable delay between two sequential shots following each other in pairs at a repetition rate of 10 Hz, series of CARS spectra of N2 molecules from a probe volume as small as 0.03×0.03×2 mm3. From the spectra, “instantaneous” temperatures at a given delay were derived. The obtained values enabled calculation of the correlation coefficient of temperature pulsations vs the delay. The results are presented for the series of 500 single-shot coupled measurements, at the delays in the range 1 μs – 0 ms, of local gas temperatures in a few points of an open turbulent partially premixed methane-air flame of a model burner with visually distinguishable stability of combustion. The average temperatures were between 1500 K and 1800 K. The measurements allowed temperature correlation times in the selected points of the flame to be derived.