Gilles Godard

Application of multiple exposure digital in-line holography to particle tracking in a Bénard–von Kármán vortex flow

Digital in-line holography is applied to studying the trajectories of individual water droplets in airflow. In order to track the particles, multiple exposure holography is performed using a modulated laser diode emitting at the wavelength of 635 nm and a lens-less CCD camera. This method leads to an accuracy better than 100 µm on the axial location. A study of the signal-to-noise ratio of such holograms shows that the number of exposures must be limited. Preliminary tests of this method are carried out in a Benard–von Karman street first characterized by laser Doppler velocimetry and hot wire anemometry. An example of a trajectory of a water droplet obtained in this flow at Reynolds number Re = 63 and Strouhal number St = 0.13 shows that digital holography is a promising method to extract the trajectories of droplets in laminar or turbulent flows.

Three-dimensional velocity near-wall measurements by digital in-line holography: calibration and results

Velocity measurements in the vicinity of an obstacle remain very complicated even when optical diagnostics based on displacement of micrometric tracers are considered. In the present paper, digital in-line holography with a divergent beam is proposed to measure the three-dimensional (3D) velocity vector fields in a turbulent boundary layer and, in particular, on the near wall region of a wind tunnel. The seeding droplets (1-5 μm) transported by a turbulent airflow are illuminated by a couple of laser pulses coming from a fiber coupled laser diode. These double exposure holograms are then recorded through a transparent glass reticle specially designed for this application with an accurate surface positioning combined with a particularly attractive in situ calibration method of the investigation volume (less than 10 mm(3)). The method used for processing holograms recorded in such a configuration is detailed. Our original calibration procedure and the assessment of its accuracy are presented. Our holographic probe has been tested in a wind tunnel for a large range of different velocities. Then 3D velocity vector fields extracted from more than 13000 holograms are analyzed. Statistical results show the capability of our approach to access in a turbulent boundary layer. In particular, it leads to relevant measurements for fluid mechanics such as velocity fluctuation and the shear stress in the very close vicinity of a wall.

The flow structure behind vortex generators embedded in a decelerating turbulent boundary layer

The objective of the present work is to analyse the behaviour of a turbulent decelerating boundary layer under the effect of both passive and active jets vortex generators (VGs). The stereo PIV database of Godard and Stanislas [1,2] obtained in an adverse pressure gradient boundary layer is used for this study. After presenting the effect on the mean velocity field and the turbulent kinetic energy, the line of analysis is extended with two points spatial correlations and vortex detection in instantaneous velocity fields. It is shown that the actuators concentrate the boundary layer turbulence in the region of upward motion of the flow, and segregate the near-wall streamwise vortices of the boundary layer based on their vorticity sign.

Analysis of the Flame Structure in a Trapped Vortex Combustor Using Low and High-Speed OH-PLIF

Operating with lean combustion has led to more efficient “Low-NOx” burners but has also brought several technological issues. The burner design geometry is among the most important element as it controls, in a general way, the whole combustion process, the pollutant emissions and the flame stability. Investigation of new geometry concepts associating lean combustion is still under development, and new solutions have to meet the future pollutant regulations. This paper reports the experimental investigation of an innovative staged lean premixed burner. The retained annular geometry follows the Trapped Vortex Combustor concept (TVC) which operates with a two stage combustion chamber: a main lean flame (1) is stabilized by passing past a vortex shape rich-pilot flame (2) located within a cavity. This concept, presented in GT2012-68451 and GT2013-94704, seems to be promising but exhibits combustion instabilities in certain cases, then leading to undesirable level of pollutant emissions and could possibly conduct to serious material damages. No precise information have been reported in the literature about the chain of reasons leading to such an operation. The aim of this paper is to have insights about the main parameters controlling the combustion in this geometry. The flame structure dynamics is examined and compared for two specific operating conditions, producing an acoustically self-excited and a stable burner. Low and high-speed OH-PLIF laser diagnostics (up to 10 kHz) are used to have access to the flame curvature and to time-resolved events. Results show that the cavity jets location can lead to flow-field oscillations and a non-constant flame’s heat release. The associated flame structure, naturally influenced by turbulence is also affected by hot gases thermal expansion. Achieving a good and rapid mixing at the interface between the cavity and the main channel leads to a stable flame.Copyright

Experimental Study of Aeronautical Ignition in a Swirled Confined Jet-Spray Burner

Aeronautical gas turbine ignition is still not well understood and its management and control is mandatory for new lean-burner designs. The fundamental aspects of swirled confined two-phase flow ignition are addressed in the present work. Two facilities enable the analysis of two characteristic phases of the process. The KIAI-Spray single-injector burner was investigated in terms of local flow properties, including the air velocity and droplet fuel (n-heptane) size-velocity characterization by phase Doppler anemometry (PDA), and the study of local equivalence ratio by means of planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) on a tracer (toluene). The initial spark location inside the chamber is vital to ensure successful ignition. An ignition probability map was elaborated varying the location of a 532 nm laser-induced spark in the chamber under ultra-lean nominal conditions (phi=0.61). The outer recirculation zone (ORZ) was found to be the best region for placing a spark and successfully igniting the mixture. A strong correlation was found between the ignition probability field and the airflow turbulent kinetic energy and velocity fields. Local equivalence ratio enhances the importance of the ORZ. Once a successful ignition is accomplished on one injector, the injector-to-injector flame propagation must be examined. Highspeed visualization through two synchronized perpendicular cameras was applied on the KIAI-Spray linear multi-injector burner. Four different injector-to-injector distances and four fuels of different volatilities (n-heptane, n-decane, n-dodecane and jet-A1 kerosene) were evaluated. Spray branches and inter injector regions changed with the inter-injector distance. Two different flame propagation mechanisms were identified: the direct radial propagation and the arc propagation mode. Ignition delay times were modified with the injector-to-injector distance and with the different fuels.

Spray ignition and local flow properties in a swirled confined spray-jet burner: experimental analysis

The authors acknowledge financial support from ANR under the project TIMBER ANR-14-CE23-0009.