Transient electric field response of laminar premixed flames

Abstract

In this study the effects of weak electric fields on laminar premixed Bunsen flames were studied using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of the formaldehyde molecules and the OH-radicals for flame structure characterization. Simultaneously particle image velocimetry (PIV) is applied to determine the changed flow field of the flame when a positively charged electrode is placed over a laminar Bunsen type flame while the burner is grounded. By application of static fields the flame front is pushed towards the burner and is constrained, which can be attributed to the momentum transfer by the ionic wind. For rich flames the ionic wind effect is intensified due to the increase of the charge carriers and larger momentum transfer of positively charged ions to the neutral species. Consequently, a stronger flow deceleration results in the order of 0.8–1.6m/s in the post-oxidation zone at supply voltages of 6kV. The ionic wind was maximized for increased flow velocity which is attributed to the increased flame surface and number of charged species. An excitation of the flame with voltage step functions was conducted to study its transient behavior. First flame response was detected at the flame root point with a response time of 2–4ms, which is an order of magnitude faster than values provided in the literature for the integral flame. This first flame response occurred after the space charge zones were built-up and the main flame response was detected 6ms after the voltage rising edge in the whole flame.