Form 9.B Project Summary
Chron:
971180
Proposal Number:
09.04-1322
Project Title:
Tunable UV Light Source for
Quantitative Microgravity Combustion
Diagnostics
Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)
Combustion studies in microgravity are critical to
ensuring the safety of personnel onboard space
craft as well as for improving our knowledge of
combustion phenomena. Under microgravity
conditions, flame ignition, propagation and
extinction become simplified due to the lack of
buoyancy. Quantitative monitoring of combustion
radicals, which control combustion kinetics although
present in trace quantities, is critical to
understanding of combustion and provides tests for
flame modeling. Many currently available
laboratory-based combustion diagnostics cannot be
adapted for microgravity experiments due to unique
space and power constraints. We propose
developing a near-UV laser source for quantitative
combustion radical diagnostics. The instrument will
measure absolute concentration distributions in
laminar and turbulent flames and will be compatible
with NASA Lewis drop tower rigs. Our approach
uses nonlinear upconversion of diode laser light to
measure simultaneously line-of-sight optical
absorbance and laser induced fluorescence images.
We target quantitative monitoring of CH and C2
radicals with 10 Hz (or better) time resolution per
two-dimensional LIF image. With the continued
development of high power diode lasers especially
at visible wavelengths, we envision this technique to
be readily extended to deeper UV wavelengths to
access other species including OH.
Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)
The proposed technology could be used as a new
combustion diagnostic tool in wind tunnel
combustion facilities, development of new
generations of rocket and jet engines, and turbine
development. In environmental monitoring
applications, many important trace molecular and
atomic species can be probed by accessing strong
electronic transitions using tunable UV and blue
radiation generated by diode laser up conversion.
Such applications include continuous emissions
monitoring of stationary power plants and municipal
incinerators, and perimeter monitoring of chemical
plants and oil refineries.
Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,
Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)
Daniel B. Oh
Southwest Sciences, Inc.
1570 Pacheco St., Suite E-11
Santa Fe , NM 87505
Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,
City/State/Zip)
Alan C. Stanton
Southwest Sciences, Inc.
1570 Pacheco St., Suite E-11
Santa Fe , NM 87505