Profiling of Redox Atmosphere in Flames by Chemical Seeding/Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (CS/PLIF)

Abstract

Knowledge on the local value of reducing and oxidizing (redox) atmospheres in flames is among the most important issues to be desired by combustion engineers. In this study, the spatial distribution of a redox atmosphere in flames has been measured experimentally by the chemical seeding/laser-induced fluorescence (CS/LIF) technique. A solution of iron was sprayed into a premixed propane-air flame supported on a slot burner. The LIF intensity of FeO band was compared to that of a Fe line to estimate the experimentally determined degree of atomization in the reaction FeO→Fe+O. The flame temperature profile was determined as a rotational temperature and was obtained by comparing the LIF (laser-induced fluorescence) intensities of OH rotational lines. The degree of atomization was theoretically calculated on the basis that simple thermal dissociation takes place in the reaction. The redox atmosphere, or a redox index, is defined as the ratio of the experimentally determined to theoretically calculated degrees of atomization. Two-dimensional distributions or profiles of the excitation temperature, experimentally determined degree of atomization, and redox index have been measured using a charge coupled device (CCD) camera fitted with an optical bandpass filter and the associated signal processing using a computer. This method has been successfully applied to quantitatively illustrate the local atmosphere and profile of the redox atmosphere in flames.