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Direct measurement of mixture fraction in reacting flow using Rayleigh scattering

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Abstract

The mixture fraction variable, ξ, is very useful in describing reaction zone structure in nonpremixed flames. Extinction limits and turbulent mixing are often described as a function of this variable. Experimental evaluation of ξ is critical for improving our understanding of the influence of turbulent mixing on the chemistry process. Heretofore, the evaluation of mixture fraction in combusting flow required multiple simultaneous concentration measurements. In this paper we present a fuel designed to permit measurements of mixture fraction by Rayleigh scattering technique only. A Rayleigh intensity/mixture fraction correspondence has been obtained experimentally in a laminar coflow flame. The influence of strain rate and differential diffusion effects have been investigated using laminar counterflow diffusion flame and shifting equilibrium chemistry models. The results obtained from comparisons between experiments and these models are very encouraging and suggest that the Rayleigh/mixture fraction correspondence established is valid under both the turbulent mixing and laminar strained flamelet combustion regimes.

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Goix, P.J., Leonard, K.R., Talbot, L. et al. Direct measurement of mixture fraction in reacting flow using Rayleigh scattering. Experiments in Fluids 15, 247–254 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223402

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223402

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