Abstract

Planar temperature images using laser Rayleigh scattering have been obtained to determine the spatial distribution of temperature in a constant volume combustion chamber. Burning velocities were also measured from measured pressures and calculated flame surface area from Rayleigh scattering images. A high power KrF excimer laser was used as a light source and a high gain ICCD camera was used to obtain temperature images. Methane/air premixed combustion at different equivalence ratios and initial pressures were tested. Since the thermodynamics are well known, a constant volume chamber can be used as a reference device for diagnostics in high temperatures and pressures combustion. With the Rayleigh scattering technique, temperature and burning velocity can be measured simultaneously using a single-shot laser light. An additional laser Rayleigh experiment is described which yields scattering cross sections at the wavelength of 248nm. The experimental results show an excellent agreement with previous data.