Enhanced flame stability and soot radiation using electric fields. Annual report, July 1987-July 1988
Enhanced stabilization of methane-air flames was achieved by application of dc electric fields of only a few thousand volts with a minimum electric-power dissipation, about 0.01% of the combustion power being controlled. Both the lean blowoff composition and the maximum blowoff velocity are markedly affected. The mechanism for this phenomenon is discussed in terms of an effect of the electric field on the boundary velocity gradient. The electric field applies an electric force on the chemiions in the flame, producing an electric wind which forces the flame closer to the burner rim both reducing the dead space and decreasing the boundary velocity gradient. The 'boiling' effect on a flat flame due to the application of an electric field, reported previously, is explained by an electron-cascade effect in which thermally produced electrons are accelerated by the electric field producing more charged soot particles. In a counterflow flame, periodic waves are produced by the electric field; an explanation has not been developed. The counterflow and flat flame apparatus, including the laser optical system for particle measurements in the flame has been completely redesigned for more rapid and especially more accurate data collection.
- Research Organization:
- Aerochem Research Labs., Inc., Princeton, NJ (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5950200
- Report Number(s):
- PB-89-140883/XAB; AEROCHEM-TP-476
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FLAMES
STABILIZATION
METHANE
COMBUSTION
SOOT
RADIATIONS
AIR
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
LASERS
PROGRESS REPORT
VELOCITY
ALKANES
DOCUMENT TYPES
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
034000* - Natural Gas- Combustion
400800 - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry