A simultaneous non-invasive diagnosis method for flame temperature and velocity fields based on radiation self-calibration and optical flow

The measurement of flame temperature and velocity is crucial to combustion research, hence it is of great significance to develop a non-invasive diagnosis technology for the measurement of flame temperature and velocity. In this study, a single-camera simultaneous non-invasive diagnosis technology for flame temperature and velocity field was developed, based on radiation self-calibration and optical flow method. The diagnosis method was applied to two case studies, propane diffusion flame and solid surface spread flame. The reconstructed flame temperature field was compared with measuring results by thermocouples. Results show that the reconstructed temperature field can accurately describe the symmetrical distribution characteristics and the clear high-temperature front. The combustion zone reconstruction temperature was 1250–1380 K for propane diffusion flame and the maximum reconstruction temperature was 1400 K for solid spread flame. The maximum relative error between the reconstructed temperature and the measured values by thermocouples is less than 15 %. Additionally, the flow velocity field at the flame edge was also measured, which could provide a good qualitative characterization of flame kinematic. •A quick and easy non-invasive diagnosis technology proposed for flame temperature and velocity simultaneous measuring.•A modified two-color Thermometry based on irradiance ratio is propose for temperature field reconstruction.•The flame velocity field is reconstructed by LK optical flow method.•The method's efficacy for gas and solid combustion flame was validated with a 15 % inaccuracy.