Chemiluminescence measurements in a meso-scale combustor fueled with CH4/air at 0.3 MPa

In this work chemiluminescence emission from the main radical species are measured in a meso-scale combustor. Global and two-dimensional analysis is performed in order to gain information on the combustion processes occurring in the non-premixed swirled combustor fuelled with CH4/air and working at 0.3 MPa. The investigation is carried out by changing the equivalence ratio in the range of the stability limits, keeping constant the total mass flow rate. The behavior of OH*, CH* and CH*/CH* chemiluminescence as a function of the equivalence ratio are discussed both for global and spatially-resolved measurements. The twodimensional results evidence the significant role of mixing and turbulence with respect to the chemical kinetic mechanisms.