Experimental and theoretical comparison of spatially resolved laser-induced incandescence (LII) signals of soot in backward and right-angle configuration

In-situ measurements of soot volume fraction in the exhausts of jet engines can be carried out using the laser-induced incandescence (LII) technique in backward configuration, in which the signal is detected in the opposite direction of the laser beam propagation. In order to improve backward LII for quantitative measurements, we have in this work made a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation in which backward LII has been compared with the more commonly used right-angle LII technique. Both configurations were used in simultaneous visualization experiments at various pulse energies and gate timings in a stabilized methane diffusion flame. The spatial near-Gaussian laser energy distribution was monitored on-line as well as the time-resolved LII signal. A heat and mass transfer model for soot particles exposed to laser radiation was used to theoretically predict both the temporal and spatial LII signals. Comparison between experimental and theoretical LII signals indicates similar general behaviour, for example the broadening of the spatial LII distribution and the hole-burning effect at centre of the beam due to sublimation for increasing laser pulse energies. However, our comparison also indicates that the current heat and mass transfer model overpredicts signal intensities at higher fluence, and possible reasons for this behaviour are discussed

An Approach Based on κ-Kӧhler Theory for Calculating CCN Activation Curves that Considers the Dry Particle Size Distribution and Morphology

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Exploring the Flame Chemistry of C5Tetrahydrofuranic Biofuels: Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol and 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran

Recently, the combustion chemistry of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), a potential biofuel, was investigated in a stoichiometric 20 mol % THFA/methane co-fueled premixed flame at 5.3 kPa by our group (Tran, L.-S.; Carstensen, H.-H.; Foo, K. K.; Lamoureux, N.; Gosselin, S.; Gasnot, L.; El-Bakali, A.; Desgroux, P. Experimental and modeling study of the high-temperature combustion chemistry of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Proc. Combust. Inst. 2021, 38, 631-640, 10.1016/j.proci.2020.07.057). With regard to this, we continue to further explore the combustion chemistry of this biofuel to understand the influence of THFA-doping amounts on the flame chemistry of its mixture with methane and the impact of the alcohol function of THFA on the product spectrum compared to its non-alcoholic fuel counterpart, i.e., 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF). To accomplish the above said objective, a methane flame, a 10% THFA/methane flame, and a 20% MTHF/methane flame were additionally analyzed at similar conditions using gas chromatography for quantitative species detection and NO laser-induced fluorescence thermometry. More than 40 species (reactants, CO, CO2, H2O, H2, and about 14 hydrocarbons as well as 26 oxygenated intermediates up to 5 carbon atoms) were quantified for each doped biofuel flame. The product distributions and consumption pathways of THFA are similar for the 10 and 20% THFA-doped flames. The maximum yields of most products increase linearly with the amount of doped THFA. However, some species do not follow this trend, indicating interaction chemistry between methane and THFA, which is found to be mainly caused by the reaction of the methyl radical. The difference in the chemical structure in THFA and MTHF has no notable impact on the mole fractions of CO, CO2, H2O, and H2, but significant differences exist for the yields of intermediate species. The doped THFA flame produces more aldehydes, alcohols, and ethers but forms clearly less ketones and hydrocarbons. A slightly upgraded version of our previous kinetic model reproduces most experimental data well and is able to explain the observed differences in intermediate production. © 2021 American Chemical Society

A simple photoacoustic method for the in situ study of soot distribution in flames

This paper presents a simple photoacoustic technique capable of quantifying soot volume fraction across a range of flame conditions. The output of a high-power (30 W) 808-nm cw-diode laser was modulated in order to generate an acoustic pressure wave via laser heating of soot within the flame. The generated pressure wave was detected using a micro-electro-mechanical microphone mounted close to a porous-plug flat-flame burner. Measurements were taken using the photoacoustic technique in flames of three different equivalence ratios and were compared to laser-induced incandescence. The results presented here show good agreement between the two techniques and show the potential of the photoacoustic method as a way to measure soot volume fraction profiles in this type of flame. We discuss the potential to implement this technique with much lower laser power than was used in the experiments presented here

Absolute CH concentration measurements by cavity ring-down spectroscopy in an atmospheric diffusion flame

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Croissance des HAP et des suies et transition phase gaz-phase solide dans les processus de combustion

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Croissance des HAP et des suies et transition phase gaz-phase solide dans les processus de combustion

This article is addressed to a scientific community familiar to astrophysics, and most researchers are not familiar with combustion science. Thus the goal is to provide a basic understanding of “the flame” and the different steps that lead to soot particle formation in conditions that are generally close to atmospheric pressure and high temperature, i.e. in conditions far from those encountered in most astrophysical media. Some experimental techniques of sooty flame investigations will also be introduced. The main aim is to outline the concepts and the tools of combustion science to facilitate fruitful scientific exchanges between two communities that are motivated by the understanding of the formation and evolution of PAHs and soot-like particles, in completely different environments. It should be noted that the description does not pretend to be exhaustive at all and certain theoretical and experimental approaches are not described nor even mentioned. Résumé. Cet article s’adresse à une communauté « astrophysique » non familière avec la combustion. Il a pour but de donner quelques bases permettant de comprendre « la flamme » et les étapes chimiques principales conduisant à la formation de particules de suie dans un milieu généralement à pression atmosphérique et haute température, c’est-à-dire dans des conditions de pression et température très éloignées de celles rencontrées dans le milieu interstellaire. Certaines méthodes expérimentales d’investigation de flammes suitées sont également présentées. L’objectif étant de pouvoir jeter des ponts entre deux communautés éloignées mais rassemblées par un même intérêt pour les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques et les particules de suie. Il est clair que la présentation qui est faite ici est très succincte et qu’elle fait l’impasse sur certaines théories, approches, méthodes expérimentales

Cavity ring-down measurements of OH radical in atmospheric premixed and diffusion flames.

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Implementation of a new spectroscopic method to quantify aromatic species involved in the formation of soot particles in flames

International audienceThe formation of aromatics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in flames is still questionable and needs quantitative experimental data to improve the comprehension of these processes. Although aromatics and PAH are considered as the main species involved in soot formation processes, their quantitative detection still remains difficult. Indeed, it requires very sensitive and robust experimental setups enabling their measurements under very low concentrations (ppm order) in sooting flames conditions. The objective of this work is to propose an alternative setup based on laser diagnostics to allow the possibility of some specific studies of aromatics and PAH compounds in an experimentally less complex manner than conventional methods. We have developed a novel experimental setup, based on calibrated laser induced fluorescence (LIF) inside an expanded free jet, to get quantitative measurements of aromatics compounds after their extraction by a microprobe. Indeed, in the supersonic jet, the spectral simplification due to the cooling allows a selective detection of such complex molecules and their quantification. The experimental set-up as well as the first measurements of the benzene molecule formed in low pressure methane flames are presented in details. Potential of the sensitivity of the method is highlighted by determining very low concentrations of benzene (1 10 ppm)