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Effect of turbulence on flame radiative emission

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Abstract

A collection of radiative emissions by several flames is analyzed. Such flames have been obtained in a number of burners, either premixed or not, fed with different fuels, while radiative emission is collected by means of a photo-diode, whose sampled signal is able to carry a large quantity of information about chemistry of flames and its interaction with turbulence. All the spectra computed show a decaying trend towards high frequencies with a slope of  −5/3, that is known to be the inertial scaling of kinetic energy for homogeneous, isotropic, nonreacting turbulent flows. The aim of this work is to propose a physical model for the interpretation of the radiant energy scaling law coming from this simple instrument. To this purpose radiative emission of the flame has been splitted into two contributions, and its dynamics analyzed. The first contribution is the chemiluminescence effect, whereas the other is to be accounted for thermal emission of a gray/black body, ruled by Planck radiative equation. The time fluctuation of radiative emission is proposed to be linked to a thin reacting surface fluctuating in time and space under the constraint of turbulent fluid dynamic field. The thin reacting surface should be considered as the local flame front in premixed combustion, and as the local stoichiometric mixture fraction front in nonpremixed case. Taking into account such emission mechanisms, a physical interpretation of the  −5/3 slope is proposed.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Dr. M. Marrocco, Researcher in ENEA, and to Prof. C.M. Casciola of University of Rome “La Sapienza” for useful discussions about chemiluminescence, radiative emission physics, and turbulent reacting flows dynamics. Thanks also to F. Manfredi and C. Stringola for their crucial help in laboratory experiences. Finally, thanks to Dr. S. Giammartini for his support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENEA, TER-ENE-IMP/SIST, S.P. 081, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, S.M. Galeria, Rome, Italy

    E. Giacomazzi, E. Giulietti & R. Bruschi

  2. Department of Mechanics and Aeronautics, University “La Sapienza”, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy

    G. Troiani

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  1. E. Giacomazzi
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  2. G. Troiani
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  3. E. Giulietti
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  4. R. Bruschi
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Correspondence to E. Giacomazzi.

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Giacomazzi, E., Troiani, G., Giulietti, E. et al. Effect of turbulence on flame radiative emission. Exp Fluids 44, 557–564 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-007-0415-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-007-0415-y

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