Laser-Induced Fluorescence Measurements and Modeling of Nitric Oxide in High-Pressure Counterflow Diffusion Flames

Abstract

Quantitative laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements of NO concentration ([NO]) have been obtained along the centerline of prompt-NO dominated, methane-air counterflow diffusion flames at two to five atm, Global strain rates of 20, 30 and 40 s⁻¹ were investigated at each pressure, with the addition of a 15 s⁻¹ case at three and four atm. Linear LIF measurements of [NO] are corrected for variations in the electronic quenching rate coefficient by using major species profiles generated by an opposed-flow flame code and quenching cross-sections for NO available from the literature. Corrected linear LIF measurements of [NO] are compared with numerical predictions from the opposed-flow flame code by utilizing the GRI (version 2.11) mechanism for the NO kinetics. The effect of radiative heat loss on code predictions is accounted for by using an optically thin radiation model. A modest decrease in predicted temperature owing to radiative heat loss causes a significant decrease in predicted [NO], indicating the temperature sensitivity of the prompt-NO kinetics. Comparisons between [NO] measurements and predictions show that the GRI mechanism underpredicts prompt-NO by a factor of two to three at all pressures. The underprediction peaks at 2 to 3 atm, and decreases with pressure from 3 to 5 atm. Although the GRI mechanism does not display this trend, predictions with a modified rate coefficient for the prompt-NO initiation reaction give qualitative agreement with the experimentally observed variation. However, modifying the prompt-NO initiation reaction is not sufficient to account for the differences between measurements and predictions, thus indicating a need for refinement of the CH chemistry.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

R.V. RAVIKRISHNA

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.