The combination of numerical methods from a novel linear transformation model and laser diagnostic methods for the characterisation of laminar flames

• Applicant: Dr. Torsten Methling
• Subject Area: Energy Process Engineering ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 397116102

To stop the anthropogenic rise of CO2 concentration in our atmosphere, the substitution of conventional fossil fuels by alternative, regenerative fuels is inevitable. To assure a reliable and low-pollutant operation of combustion machinery with these new fuels e.g. in power plants, motorcars or aeroplanes, the machinery needs to be adapted or newly designed. Thus, accurate chemical kinetic models are of utmost importance for the numerical design of combustion machinery. This project will contribute to the development of such accurate chemical kinetic mechanisms. For this purpose, laser diagnostic methods (Raman spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence) will be applied to measure species concentration profiles in laminar, premixed methane and ethane flames. This will create fundamental data to develop and validate chemical kinetic models. Firstly, a novel linear transformation model will be applied to numerically support the interpretation of the experimental data by evaluating the experimental uncertainty of the quantification and potentially reducing the uncertainty of the measured data. Thereby, the quality of the experimental data from laser diagnostic—often having high uncertainties in concentration quantification—will be sustainably increased and will potentially offer new calibration possibilities for further measurements. Additionally, the acquired experimental data will be utilised to improve a chemical kinetic model. Thus, an optimisation method — also based on the linear transformation model — will be applied to increase the reproducibility of experimental data by the chemical kinetic model. In this respect, the measured species profiles will be integrated into a database of target data of various, existing fundamental experiments, forming the basis for the optimisation procedure.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Sweden
• Participating Institution: Lund University ; Department of Physics
• Host: Professor Dr. Marcus Aldén