Comparative study of soot formation on the centerline of axisymmetric laminar diffusion flames: Fuel and temperature effects

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Combust. Flame; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-2180(87)90081-2· OSTI ID:5774373

Gomez, A; Littman, M G; Glassman, I

The appearance of soot on the centerline aof axisymmetric laminar diffusion flames has been studied by monitoring (i) the gas temperature by thermocouples; (ii) the soot particle field by laser scattering/extinction; (iii) the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PCAH) by laser induced fluorescence. Four fuels were used: butene, acetylene, butadiene, and benzene. All but one flame were at the smoke height condition and were characterized by different levels of N/sub 2/ dilution aimed at controlling the temperature field. It was observed that (i) soot nucleation occurs at the centerline; (ii) the soot onset on the centerline occurs when a characteristic temperature of 1350K is measured, regardless of fuel type or level of dilution; (iii) butene and benzene have similar fluorescence patterns, in contrast with premixed flame environments. These last two observations are consistent with the proposal that, though the extent of conversion of fuel into soot may significantly change from fuel to fuel, there is a common mechanism of soot formation for all fuels. Results are discussed.

• Research Organization: M.A.E. Dept., Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ 08544
• OSTI ID: 5774373
• Journal Information: Combust. Flame; (United States), Vol. 70:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ACETYLENE
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
BENZENE
BUTADIENE
BUTANE
COMBUSTION KINETICS
FLAMES
FLUORESCENCE
FUELS
LAMINAR FLOW
LASER RADIATION
MONITORING
NITROGEN
NUCLEATION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SMOKES
SOOT
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL DIFFUSION
AEROSOLS
ALKANES
ALKYNES
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COLLOIDS
DIENES
DIFFUSION
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FLUID FLOW
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
LUMINESCENCE
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYENES
RADIATIONS
REACTION KINETICS
RESIDUES
SOLS
400800* - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry