Combustion Diagnostics - Experiments

Jul 12, 2017 · 1 min read
skills

Combustion Diagnostics and Laminar Flame Speed Measurement

During my master’s research, I experimentally investigated the laminar flame speed and Markstein length of alternative liquid fuels, including n-butanol and methyl decanoate, using an optical combustion diagnostic system.

The study was conducted using a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC) equipped with shadowgraph and schlieren imaging techniques to visualize flame propagation and measure combustion characteristics.

Experimental System Development

I was directly involved in building and validating the experimental setup, including:

  • Assembly and integration of the constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC)
  • Alignment of shadowgraph and schlieren optical systems
  • Calibration and validation of measurement procedures
  • Development of experimental protocols for repeatable combustion measurements

Experimental Techniques

Key diagnostic and measurement techniques used include:

  • Shadowgraph imaging for density-gradient visualization
  • Schlieren optical diagnostics for flame structure observation
  • High-speed imaging of flame propagation
  • Laminar flame speed calculation from flame radius evolution

Fuels Studied

  • n-Butanol (oxygenated biofuel candidate)
  • Methyl decanoate (biodiesel surrogate fuel)

These fuels were studied to understand their combustion behavior and evaluate their suitability for advanced combustion systems.

Skill Combustion Diagnostics Optical Diagnostics Experimental Systems
Niladri Talukder
Authors
Niladri Talukder
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
Niladri Talukder, Ph.D., is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in functional nanomaterials for electrochemical and thermal energy systems. His research focuses on the synthesis, advanced characterization, and performance evaluation of nanostructured materials and composite systems for applications in batteries, fuel cells, and thermal energy storage technologies. His work emphasizes understanding structure–property–performance relationships to improve material stability, durability, and overall energy efficiency. Through experimental materials engineering and systematic performance analysis, he contributes to the development of advanced materials for sustainable energy systems. His research findings have been published in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals.