Sarah A. Tedder

Dual-Pump Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Measurements in a Supersonic Combustor

The dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) method was used to measure temperature and the mole fractions of N 2 and O 2 in a supersonic combustor. Experiments were conducted in NASA Langley Research Centers Direct-Connect Supersonic Combustion Test Facility. In this facility, H 2 - and oxygen-enriched air burn to increase the enthalpy of the simulated air test gas. This gas is expanded through a Mach 2 nozzle and into a combustor model consisting of a short constant-area section followed by a small rearward-facing step and another constant-area section. At the end of this straight section, H 2 fuel is injected at Mach 2 and at a 30-deg angle with respect to the freestream. One wall of the duct then expands at a 3-deg angle for over 1 m. The ensuing combustion is probed optically through ports in the side of the combustor. Dual-pump CARS measurements were performed at the facility nozzle exit and at four planes downstream of fuel injection. Maps are presented of the mean temperature, as well as N 2 and O 2 mean mole-fraction fields. Correlations between fluctuations of the different measured parameters are also presented.

Width-increased dual-pump enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy

Width-increased dual-pump enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (WIDECARS) is a technique that is capable of simultaneously measuring temperature and species mole fractions of N(2), O(2), H(2), C(2)H(4), CO, and CO(2). WIDECARS is designed for measurements of all the major species (except water) in supersonic combustion flows fueled with hydrogen and hydrogen/ethylene mixtures. The two lowest rotational energy levels of hydrogen detectable by WIDECARS are H(2) S(3) and H(2) S(4). The detection of these lines gives the system the capability to measure temperature and species concentrations in regions of flow containing pure hydrogen fuel at room temperature.

CARS Temperature and Species Concentration Measurements in a Supersonic Combustor with Normal Injection

The dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) method was used to measure temperature and the absolute mole fractions of N2, O2 and H2 in a supersonic combustor. Experiments were conducted in the NASA Langley Direct-Connect Supersonic Combustion Test Facility. CARS measurements were performed at the facility nozzle exit and at three planes downstream of fuel injection. Processing the CARS measurements produced maps of the mean temperature, as well as quantitative N2 and O2 and qualitative H2 mean mole fraction fields at each plane. The CARS measurements were also used to compute correlations between fluctuations of the different simultaneously measured parameters. Comparisons were made between this 90 degree angle fuel injection case and a 30 degree fuel injection case previously presented at the 2004 Reno AIAA Meeting.

Determination of probe volume dimensions in coherent measurement techniques

When investigating combustion phenomena with pump-probe techniques, the spatial resolution is given by the overlapping region of the laser beams and thus defines the probe volume size. The size of this probe volume becomes important when the length scales of interest are on the same order or smaller. We present a new approach to measure the probe volume in three dimensions, which can be used to determine the probe volume length, diameter, and shape. The optical arrangement and data evaluation are demonstrated for a dual-pump dual-broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering setup that is used for combustion diagnostics. This new approach offers a simple, quick alternative with more capabilities than formerly used probe volume measurement methods.

Characterization of a Combined CARS and Interferometric Rayleigh Scattering System

This paper describes the characterization of a combined Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy and Interferometric Rayleigh Scattering (CARS-IRS) system by reporting the accuracy and precision of the measurements of temperature, species mole fraction of N2, O2, and H2, and two-components of velocity. A near-adiabatic H2-air Hencken burner flame was used to provide known properties for measurements made with the system. The measurement system is also demonstrated in a small-scale Mach 1.6 H2-air combustion- heated supersonic jet with a co-flow of H2. The system is found to have a precision that is sufficient to resolve fluctuations of flow properties in the mixing layer of the jet.

Development of Supersonic Combustion Experiments for CFD Modeling

This paper describes the development of an experiment to acquire data for developing and validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models for turbulence in supersonic combusting flows. The intent is that the flow field would be simple yet relevant to flows within hypersonic air-breathing engine combustors undergoing testing in vitiated-air ground-testing facilities. Specifically, it describes development of laboratory-scale hardware to produce a supersonic combusting coaxial jet, discusses design calculations, operability and types of flames observed. These flames are studied using the dual-pump coherent anti- Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) - interferometric Rayleigh scattering (IRS) technique. This technique simultaneously and instantaneously measures temperature, composition, and velocity in the flow, from which many of the important turbulence statistics can be found. Some preliminary CARS data are presented.

Characteristics of a broadband dye laser using Pyrromethene and Rhodamine dyes

A broadband dye laser pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser with a full width at half-maximum from 592 to 610 nm was created for the use in a dual-pump broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) system called width increased dual-pump enhanced CARS (WIDECARS). The desired broadband dye laser was generated with a mixture of Pyrromethene dyes as an oscillator gain medium and a spectral selective optic in the oscillator cavity. A mixture of Rhodamine dyes was used in the amplifier dye cell. To create this laser, a study was performed to characterize the spectral behavior of broadband dye lasers created with Rhodamine dyes 590, 610, and 640 and Pyrromethene dyes 597 and 650, as well as mixtures of these dyes.

CARS Temperature Measurements in a Combustion -Heated Supersonic Jet

Measurements were made in a combustion-heated supersonic axi-symmetric free jet from a nozzle with a diameter of 6.35 cm using dual-pump Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS). The resulting mean and standard deviation temperature maps are presented. The temperature results show that the gas temperature on the centerline remains constant for approximately 5 nozzle diameters. As the heated gas mixes with the ambient air further downstream the mean temperature decreases. The standard deviation map shows evidence of the increase of turbulence in the shear layer as the jet proceeds downstream and mixes with the ambient air. The challenges of collecting data in a harsh environment are discussed along with influences to the data. The yield of the data collected is presented and possible improvements to the yield is presented are discussed.

Width-Increased Dual-Pump Enhanced Coherent Anti- Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (WIDECARS)

WIDECARS is a dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy technique that is capable of simultaneously measuring temperature and species mole fractions of N2, O2, H2, C2H4, CO, and CO2. WIDECARS is designed for measurements of all the major species (except water) in supersonic combustion flows fueled with hydrogen and hydrogen/ethylene mixtures. The two lowest rotational energy levels of hydrogen detectable by WIDECARS are H2 S(3) and H2 S(4). The detection of these lines gives the system the capability to measure temperature and species concentrations in regions of the flow containing pure hydrogen fuel at room temperature.

Development of Fuel Droplet Vaporization Rate Measurement Techniques for Realistic Burning Spray Applications

Technology to support design for the next generation of aircraft fuel injectors is being developed by NASA’s Fundamental Aeronautics Program to reduce emissions, increase efficiency, and enable fuel flexible aircraft. The design of these fuel injectors can be aided by measuring the vaporization rates of jet fuel droplets in realistic, burning sprays. Currently, in this environment, no instantaneous vaporization rate measurement techniques have been applied. After surveying techniques for potential development for this application, two techniques were identified: stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and droplet lasing spectroscopy (DLS). Plans were developed for the modification of these techniques for this specific application. Developments of the SRS technique were tested including measurement of a water droplet diameter change rate. SRS spectra were also collected from jet fuel droplets.Copyright