Chemical and Optical Probing of Premixed Methane/Oxygen Flames

Abstract

We have measured the concentration profiles of the major products in fuel-rich pre mixed CH₄/O₂ flames. Optical measurements were performed to measure soot number densities, volume fraction and particle size distributions. We have shown that the increase in the soot volume fraction is due to surface growth and that acetylene is the source of the carbon involved in this process. We have also been able to determine the importance of coagulation versus surface growth in the increase of soot particle radius with time in these flames.