Laser Induced Fluorometry and Velocimetry

The characteristics of fuel atomizers have been studied by using a fluorescence optical patternator via establishing a laser sheet illumination of the spray and an image capturing system. Line laser Mie-scattering and fluorescence imaging technique is used to study the fuel mass distribution, geometrical properties, angle and symmetry in sprays. The proposed experimental setup employs Rhodamine 6G as the fluorophore. A set of filters have been used to reduce the signature from the combustion fire while being able to image the nanoparticles. Experimental results are obtained under the conditions of the fuel with and without being seeded with quantum dots and under both non-combusting and combusting spray conditions. The results from the study are validated against existing volume flux distribution measurements by conventional techniques. Owing to the high luminescence properties of quantum dots, the liquid volume distribution can accurately be determined in an evaporating as well as a non-evaporating spray using this technique. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanoparticles whose emission wavelength can be tuned by the choice of their size. Also their, high luminescence properties are advantageous in a spectrally "noisy" combustion environment.