A method to estimate the size (primary spherical-particle number) distribution pattern and average volume-equivalent diameter of soot aggregates suspended in a rich ethylene-air premixed flame was developed, where TEM data such as the primary spherical particle diameter, the fractal dimension and size distribution pattern of soot aggregate specimens collected on a sheetmesh were combined with optical data such as the dissymmetry ratio in differential scattering cross section. The growth of soot particles along the central streamline was observed, and the effects of the complex refractive index were examined. The growth of soot particles mainly occurred through the aggregation of primary spherical particles, whereas the growth of the primary particles themselves was very slow. The fractal dimension and the size distribution pattern of aggregates were kept almost constant during the growth process. The complex refractive index had only secondary effects as compared with the effects of the fractal configuration and size distribution pattern of soot aggregates.
展开▼
