Effects of Pressure on Microgravity Hydrocarbon Diffusion FlamesThe effect of pressure on the propane diffusion flames burning in quiescent air under both normal-gravity and microgravity conditions (in the NASA's 2.2-Second Drop Tower at the Lewis Research Center) were studied at pressures of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 atm, with three fuel mass-flow rates for each pressure. Compared to normal-gravity flames, the microgravity tests showed enhanced sooting, tip-opening, and soot escape, accompanied with changes in color, size, and luminosity of the flames. At low pressures, less-efficient burning and a broader flame zone was found to exist due to the kinetics effects, while at high pressures, where was more soot and longer soot-burning zones. Results show that there exist a particular intermediate pressure at which both the microgravity and normal-gravity flame heights are minimized.
Document ID
19900037984
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bahadori, M. Yousef (Science Applications International Corp. Torrance, CA, United States)
Stocker, Dennis P. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Edelman, Raymond B. (Rockwell International Corp. Rocketdyne Div., Canoga Park, CA, United States)