Effects of hydrogen addition on soot formation in flames: experimental investigation by laser imaging

Numerous scientific studies have indicated that soot particles, commonly produced during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, pose a serious public health risk. Understanding the formation mechanism of soot is helpful for reducing the emission of soot and its adverse effects on human health and the environment. Strategies for reduction of soot depend on the understanding of soot formation mechanisms, which may be aided by the capabilities of soot distributions measurements, including reliable measurement of soot parameters such as particle size, number density, and soot volume fraction. The effect of hydrogen on soot formation is a focus of attention for this project. Literature has shown that the introduction of hydrogen into sooting flames enhances or inhibits the formation of soot particles and their precursors depending on the operating conditions. Hydrogen-doped flames are obtained by replacing/adding a certain amount of Hydrogen fuel in the flame, by keeping certain parameters constant. Over the past 20 years, laser-induced incandescence (LII) has proven in numerous studies to be a useful diagnostic tool for spatially and temporally resolved measurement of soot volume fraction in a wide range of applications, such as laminar and turbulent flames, in-cylinder combustion, and engine exhaust gas characterisation. This technique will be used for the purpose of this project.
Overall, the aim of this project is to understand the formation mechanism of soot and determining strategies towards soot emission reduction by adding Hydrogen in fuel/air mixtures.