Dual-pump vibrational CARS measurements of temperature and species concentrations in turbulent premixed flames with CO2 addition

Abstract

A dual-pump vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (DPVCARS) system was applied for simultaneous temperature and species concentration measurements in jet flames on a newly developed piloted axisymmetric reactor assisted turbulent (PARAT) premixed flame burner. Turbulent lean premixed methane/air round jet flames with varying CO2 dilution were stabilized using an annular flow of hydrogen at the flame base. Carbon dioxide was injected into the fuel stream to simulate effects of dry exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). The flames were operated at a nearly constant Reynolds number, Lewis number, and adiabatic flame temperature to minimize thermal and transport effects. Velocity boundary conditions at the burner exit were measured using particle image velocimetry. Simultaneous temperature and major species concentrations (O2 and CO2) were measured along the axial direction at the burner centerline and along the radial direction at representative axial locations above the burner. Progress variables calculated based on the temperatures were used to study the mean flame brush thickness and the turbulent burning velocity. Probability density functions (PDFs) of temperature at various locations are presented and discussed. The DPVCARS measurements provide an experimental database including temperature and turbulent burning velocity for combustion model evaluation and validation and demonstrated a strong potential for flame structure investigation with future improvement on spatial resolution and signal to noise ratio. The merits and limitations of vibrational CARS for diagnostics in turbulent premixed combustion are discussed. The results show that flames with CO2 addition depart from the universal mean flame brush structure, while their RMS fluctuation values at an identical mean temperature collapse with the undiluted flame. The CO2 addition increases the combustion intensity with a decrease in turbulent burning velocity when minimizing the thermal and transport effects.