Student Intern: David Ruddock

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Advanced Laser Diagnostics for High Pressure
Combustion
Student Intern David Ruddock Faculty Advisor
Dr. Tonghun Lee Laser Diagnostics Laboratory for
Energy Environment Research Department of
Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University
SPARTAN ENGINEERING
Laser Diagnostics Laboratory Research Focus
Research Develop sensitive and robust laser
imaging strategies for fundamental and practical
detection of chemical species and thermodynamic
parameters
The goal is to develop advanced laser diagnostics
for high pressure combustion (1-60 bar). Lasers
can provide selective and quantitative probing
of chemical and physical parameters (i.e.,
temperature, species concentration, etc.)
Laser Diagnostics Research Development of 2D
laser imaging strategies for novel combustion
concepts and thermodynamic parameters
Energy Research Investigation of alternative
energy systems including hydrogen, novel biofuels
and energetic nanoparticle additives
Propulsion Systems Research Laser imaging of
advanced propulsion systems (automobile, aero and
astronautic propulsion systems)
Environment Research Emission diagnostics. Real
time diagnostics of toxic chemicals and
multiphase particulate matter
Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) results
Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF)
Imaging Molecules are excited to higher energy
states using narrow bandwidth laser energy. LIF
is the subsequent de-excitation to lower energy
states resulting in emission of fluorescence
photons. LIF can be used to image molecule
concentrations and temperature fields with 2D
resolution.
2D Temperature Imaging
Simultaneous Multiple Species Imaging
High Pressure Burner Pressure range (1-60 bar)
Two-line and new multi-line thermometry
in collaboration with Stanford University, CA
Nitric Oxide (NO) Concentration Imaging
Issues with Elevated Pressure
Simultaneous Imaging of O2 and CO2 using
multi-spectral LIF
Collisional Broadening Excitation lines of
molecules are collisionally broadened. Even with
narrow bandwidth lasers, multiples lines can be
excited. Overall signal is also reduced.
LIF of Multiple Species Spectrally resolved
detection of the resulting emission indicates
that multiple species emit LIF in the same
spectral region. Therefore, detection of single
species can be altered by interference from
alternative signals.
Severe Attenuation of Laser and LIF Both the
probe laser beam and the LIF fluorescence signal
can suffer from severe attenuation by molecular
absorption. In case of UV light, hot CO2 is a
strong absorber.
Practical Applications
New multi-spectral Imaging for isolation of NO
signal
Application in practical high pressure combustion
systems
UV Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Concentration Imaging

• Design Optimization
• Combustion Study
• Pollution Control

Spectrally resolved emission using UV excitation
Excitation lines of NO
Absorption cross sections of CO2
Novel CO2 sensor using UV excitation/detection