Visualization of Sooting Field in an Emulsion Droplet Flame by using Microgravity Environment

摘要

Sooting field in a flame formed around a suspended droplet was visualized under microgravity using the planar laser light scattering technique. The soot concentration and the instantaneous soot amount were approximately estimated from the intensity of the scattered light using the image analysis system. The fuels employed were water-in-oil emulsions composed of n--dodecane, water and surfactant. The water content was varied from 0 to 0.2 in volume. A soot layer which was concentric with the droplet was observed inside the luminous flame. The results show the unsteadi- ness of the sooting behavior as well as the flame behavior. The maximum of the soot concentration is located near the inner edge of the soot layer. The time history of the instantaneous soot amount is similar to that of the instantaneous flame radius. The maximum of the soot concentration does not vary with the water content, while the soot amount decreases significantly with the water emulsification.