| The focus of this study is to investigate the influences of additives and electric fields to traditional lifted hydrocarbon jet flames, as well as experiments into electrohydrodynamic devices using ambient air. These additives can take the form of nitrogen dilution or hydrogen enrichment of the central fuel jet, or coflowing air. Nitrogen dilution provides a method to increase the fuel jet velocity, while not adding either fuel or oxidizer. Hydrogen enrichment is the addition of small amounts of hydrogen to the fuel stream, which greatly increases the overall flame speed and flame temperature. Early investigations into the application of electric fields has shown that the high potential electric fields change not only the can create air flows using the ionic wind, but also has a possible influence on the chemical kinetics and overall chemical structure of the flame, influencing the interactions between ions within the flame or creating new ions. The influence, of the diluents, enrichment agents, or electric fields, on the downstream stabilization point was observed at different levels, either flow rates for the diluents/enrichment agents or potential for the electric fields, as well as the changes to flame structure and luminosity. Experimental models have drawn comparisons to existing models and theories, and understanding of known phenomena, and provided useful insight into overall mechanisms occurring within jet flames. Further experiments will focus on optimization of electrohydrodynamic devices and electric fields. |
