Laser tomography of turbulent premixed bunsen flames

Tomography of premixed propane-air flames is described. A laser light sheet formed by multiple reflections between two cylindrical concave mirrors is used to illuminate fine silicone oil droplets suspended in the unreacted mixture, the oil droplets evaporating almost instantaneously across the thin burning interface. The bunsen flame is pilot stabilized with the turbulence generated by a perforated plate situated upstream. Image capture is by 35-mm stills and CCD video. Images are digitized and thence become amenable to various analyses that assist the modeling and understanding of premixed turbulent combustion. A few of the possibilities are demonstrated, while the resolution and possible refinements of the method are discussed.