Droplet-laden laminar flames
The stretched laminar flame is a paradigm in understanding combustion. But what about cases in which the flame contains droplets? We have started a series of experiments to determine how the presence rate of droplets affects the local flame burning rate and structure.
 Natural luminosity images of flame with different droplet sizes |
A direct test of the effect of droplets on laminar flames, depending on size and concentration, compared to dilution by vapour. Relevant both for fire suppression as well as for understanding of droplet-flame interactions. L. Fan, et al., “The effect of fine droplets on laminar propagation speed of a strained acetone-methane flame: Experiment and simulations”, Comb. Flame, (2022) 229:111377 |
 Reference flame velocities measured with PIV, as a function of strain rate, equivalence ratio and droplet sizes. |
First experiments exploring droplet-flame interactions using a twin flame stretched burner, showing that the evaporation limits the reaction rate on the lean side, and low temperatures from evaporation lower it on the rich side. D. McGrath, L. Fan, S. Gkantonas, and S. Hochgreb, “The effect of fuel droplets on the burning velocity of strained laminar acetone/air flames”, Proc. Comb. Inst., (2023) 29:2503 |