Experimental measurements in actual combustors typically produce measurements that are narrowly relevant to only specific geometries and not easily generalized. Moreover, in experimental studies, relevant mixing scales (e.g., Batchelor scales) are difficult to observe due to the resolution limitations of the imaging sensors. As a result, critical mixing features are not captured, preventing a reasonable comparison with numerical results. In this project, we aimed to overcome these challenges by experimentally resolving the mixing scales relevant to turbulent combustion by using a simplified and abstracted model combustion chamber.
We devised an experimental arrangement to simultaneously perform particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) measurements in the model combustor chamber. Then we performed simultaneous velocity and scalar field measurements, characterized the velocity and scalar field measurements, and examined the possible connections between two fields.
