Quantitative characterization of species, temperature, and particles in steady and time-varying laminar flames by optical methods

Optical techniques are used to characterize steady and time-varying laminar flames in order to verify computational models and non-optical measurements. The first set of measurements determines major species concentration, temperature, and flame front profiles in a steady and flow modulated laminar methane diffusion flame through Rayleigh and Spontaneous Raman scattering techniques. These experimental results are compared to the computational profiles of the group of Professor Mitchell Smooke. The next set of measurements determines temperature and soot particle size and volume fraction in a sooting ethylene, laminar diffusion flame through laser induced incandescence techniques. A model is developed to extract particle size information from the incandescence signal. Soot particle size is compared with particle sizes obtained from soot sampling measurements. The final set of measurements determines particle and aggregate information of nanoparticles synthesized in a premixed laminar flame through laser-induced incandescence and laser light scattering techniques.