Date of Award

6-14-2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Kevin C. Gross, PhD.

Abstract

A passive remote sensing technique for accurately monitoring the combustion efficiency of petrochemical flares is greatly desired. A Phase II DOE-funded SBIR lead by Spectral Sciences, Inc. is underway to develop such a method. This paper presents an overview of the progress of AFIT's contribution. A Telops Hyper-Cam Mid-wave infrared imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer is used to examine a flame produced by a Hencken burner. Ethylene fuel was burned at four different equivalency ratios φ = 0:80; 0:91; 1:0 and 1:25. Presented is qualitative spectrally-resolved visualization of a Hencken burner flame and the spatial distribution of combustion by-products. The flame spectra were characterized by structured emissions from CO2, H2O and CO. A single-layer model is developed to estimate the temperature and H2O and CO2 concentrations using spectrally-resolved flame emissions between 3100 cm-1 ≤ ν ≤ 3500 cm-1. At the flame center 10 mm above the burner, temperature was estimated as T = 2172 ± 28 K, this compares favorably with recently reported OH-absorption measurements (T = 2226 ± 112 K) and equilibrium calculations (T = 2302 K). H2O and CO2 mole fractions at the same height of 10 mm were measured to be 13:7 ± 0:6% and 15:5 ± 0:8%, respectively.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-OSE-ENP-12-J02

DTIC Accession Number

ADA563774

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