Laser imaging of chemistry-flowfield interactions: enhanced soot formation in time-varying diffusion flames

Models of detailed flame chemistry and soot formation are based upon experimental results obtained in steady, laminar flames. For successful application of these descriptions to turbulent combustion, it is instructive to test predictions against measurements in time-varying flowfields. This paper reports the use of optical methods to examine soot production and oxidation processes in a co-flowing, axisymmetric CH4/air diffusion flame in which the fuel flow rate is acoustically forced to create a time-varying flowfield.