Soot Characterization in a Solid Fuel Opposed Flow Burner Using Laser-Induced Incandescence

The regression rates of polyethylene (PE) in opposed-flow PE/ N2/ O2 diffusion flames are examined to investigate the influence of oxidizer bulk flow speed on the coupled interactions between heat transfer to the polyethylene surface and diffusion of pyrolyzed products to the flame region. Regression rates were measured for low-density and ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene across oxidizer velocities from 0.2 to 0.6 m/s. The results show an increase in regression rate with oxidizer flow speed. This trend is associated with a decrease in the standoff distance between the diffusion flame and the polyethylene surface, thereby increasing the heat flux to the polymer surface. Since the soot particles in PE/ N2/O2 diffusion flames cause radiative heat transfer to the polymer surface, the soot characterization using laser-induced incandescence (LII) can provide insight into the influence of soot formation on regression rates. For this reason, LII measurements will be carried out to characterize soot formation in the opposed-flow PE/N2/O2 diffusion flames.