Coupled 3D evolutionary reconstruction technique for multi-simultaneous measurements

An integrated approach for the three-dimensional tomographic reconstruction of multiple scalar fields in premixed gaseous non-sooting reactive flow applications is presented. Measurement of different physical quantities are combined to enable an in-depth analysis of the combustion process in premixed turbulent flames. This is achieved by utilizing a flexible and versatile evolutionary reconstruction technique, where measured chemiluminescence signals and deflections of a background-oriented schlieren tomography (BOST) setup are processed in a coupled manner for the first time. The 3D tomographic inverse problem is stated as a coupled system and is holistically solved for the chemiluminescence intensity field and the refractive index field (from BOST data) in the flow domain. The chemiluminescence field is interpreted as a pseudo flame surface density function of a progress variable field that allows the analysis of flame front curvatures. The proposed method is tested for its consistency and sensitivities on synthetically generated measurement data of different complexities. Finally, the technique is applied to experimental measurement data of turbulent stratified flames with different levels of swirl. [Display omitted] •3D flame emission and BOS tomography performed in a coupled inverse problem.•3D reconstructions of pseudo progress variables and flame front curvatures.•Quantification of experimentally derived 3D curvatures of turbulent swirl flames.•3D curvatures from a DNS of a turbulent flame are compared with experimental data.