Applications to Combustion

Abstract

However, there have been two major advances in combustion research which contain new ideas and directions in detailed chemistry and physics. The first is the use of powerful computers for the numerical solutions to combustion problems, so that a predictive description can be built beginning with fundamental physical principles. The second is the use of laser diagnostic techniques for the determination of the detailed properties of the combustion system, especially temperature, velocity, and composition, including both major components and trace chemical intermediates. These have not only provided tests of the computational models, but have also furnished new insights and approaches to an understanding of combustion. This has occurred by measuring properties of the system not previously available, or via improved scales of spatial and temporal resolution. laserdiagnostics This chapter concentrates on these two areas of physical models and laser diagnostics, and the outstanding physical questions that remain. Each is greatly influencing the development of the two important combustion science issues: describing turbulent flows and incorporating realistic chemistry.