Progress in Applying Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy to Scramjet Isolators and Combustors

Abstract

Development of advanced propulsion systems of interest to the Air Force requires study of the harsh physical environments associated with reacting flows characterized by extremes in temperature and pressure and composition in the case of plasmas. Such environments are difficult to study in detail with methods that make use of physical intrusion into the local environment. Such difficulties motivate the use of noncontact means of study such as optical approaches. By taking advantage of impressive advances in diode laser and associated technology, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) has become a widespread tool for optical diagnostics in reacting flows. Measurements of target species concentration, temperature, pressure, and velocity have been demonstrated in a wide variety of environments by several research groups. Commercialization of niche measurement instruments based on TDLAS has been achieved. The current maturity of the technique enables its application to hypersonic flow paths -- scramjet engines in particular. In this report we summarize our progress in applying TDLAS to scramjet isolators and combustors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA522512

Entities

People

  • C. D. Lindstrom
  • Dominic L. Barone
  • Michael S. Brown
  • Skip Williams

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Alkanes
  • Amplifiers
  • Boundary Layer
  • Combustion
  • Combustors
  • Laser Diodes
  • Laser Spectroscopy
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Spectroscopy
  • Supersonic Combustion Ramjet Engines

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Semiconductor Device Technology
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Hypersonics