Soot Formation In Turbulent Combusting Flows
Abstract
Studies of soot formation in turbulent jet flames burning ethylene in air were studied for Reynolds numbers ranging from 4,000 to 23,000. Laser-based techniques were used to measure the soot volume fraction, particle size and number density as well as the temperature and relative concentration of hydroxyl radicals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Measurements of the characteristics length scales for the soot and hydroxyl radical fields throughout the turbulent flames were obtained. The maximum soot eddy size was observed to be 7 mm or about three times the size of the diameter of the fuel jet (d= 2.18 mm). The soot eddy size increased linearly along the centerline of the turbulent flame until the mid-point, where it leveled off and finally decreased in the oxidation zone. In contrast, the hydroxyl radical eddy size always increased along the flame with a maximum eddy size of 12 mm for the higher Reynolds number flames. Analysis of the radial dependence of the eddy size was also determined. Relatively little radial dependence in the eddy size was observed for the soot particles indicating that the soot eddies moved off the axis very fast as compared to the mixing rate. However for the hydroxyl radicals, the eddy size was always larger off the axis of the flame except near the flame tip. With respect to the temperature field, temperature probability density functions indicated bimodality at all axially locations. With respect to soot formation, the highest soot formation location and the peak mean temperature were observed on the fuel-rich side of the stoichiometric flame location while the peak hydroxyl radical concentration was on the fuel-lean side.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA353448
Entities
People
- Robert J. Santoro
- Seong-Young Lee
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University