| dc.description.abstract | A new shock-tube facility for the study of gas- and condensed-phase measurements has been developed for the investigation of various hydrocarbon species. At present, the shock-tube facility is intended for studying combustion properties of long- chain hydrocarbon fuel components and mixtures at realistic engine conditions. Equipped with an aerosol generation and entrainment apparatus, the facility also possesses an enlarged driver section and double-diaphragm interface between the driver and driven sections. The driver section diameter is 19.37 cm with a configurable length of 1-6 m. Additionally, the stainless-steel driven section has an mirror-finish internal diameter of 15.24 cm and is also configurable in length up to 5.18 m. As with most modern shock tubes, this shock tube is equipped for use with current methods of shock velocity detection, optical diagnostics, and other diagnostic techniques. In addition to the study of aerosolized liquids (fuels and non-fuels) related to combustion chemistry, reaction kinetics, evaporation studies, and particle-fluid interactions, the facility is capable of investigating traditional gas-phase mixtures like those previously undertaken in a similar facility in the Petersen Group Laboratory at the Texas A&M campus in College Station, TX. The operating limits of the facility include temperatures and pressures up to 4000 K and 100 atm, respectively. A basic characterization of all diagnostics, including the ignition delay results of lean methane mixtures, are presented in this study (T5=1425-1825 K, P5=1.5, 4 atm). Furthermore, the design and characterization of a novel aerosol introduction method for applications in shock tubes is presented. Lastly, the methods and procedures implemented for conducting aerosol shock tube experiments are discussed and the results of various ignition delay studies in real fuel-air mixtures conducted over a modest range of temperatures and pressures are presented. | en |
