Preliminary study of flame structure in an internal combustion engine using 2-D flow visualization

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5976653

zur Loye, A O; Bracco, F V; Santavicca, D A

The structure of the turbulent flame in a premixed charge internal combustion engine was investigated at engine speeds of 300, 600, 1200, and 1800 rpm. A laser sheet, 200 microns thick and 1 cm wide, was passed through the turbulent flame front and the intensity of the light scattered by seeding particles was measured, thus obtaining two-dimensional (2-D) cross-sections of the flame front. At the lower engine speeds the flame fronts were mostly continuous with some apparent pockets of unburned gas. As the engine speed was increased the flame fronts were more strongly distorted and the frequency of (what appeared to be) multiply connected flame sheets increased. The measured flame thicknesses varied from 300 microns to 1000 microns with the larger values more common at higher speeds. At least some of the variation was due to the flame being tilted with respect to the laser sheet but uncertainties persist as to the accuracy of the measured thicknesses. 11 refs., 11 figs.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-81AL16338
• OSTI ID: 5976653
• Report Number(s): CONF-850915-2; ON: DE86008172
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100* -- Internal Combustion Engines
ENGINES
FLAMES
FLUID FLOW
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
OPERATION
PISTONS
TURBULENCE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS