Using Infrared Imaging to Quantify Flow Dynamics of a Cold, Non-reactive CO2 Jet in Crossflow

The development and improvement of advanced propulsion systems is dependent on an understanding of the intricacies of the flow and processes involved. The interaction of a jet in crossflow is a well-studied phenomenon that can be utilized in a variety of applications, from film cooling to fuel injection. There are many methods in practice today that are used to visualize and quantify flow dynamics in a wide range of flow regimes. However, most of these approaches are costly in resources and complicated to implement, each having unique limitations. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of using an infrared imaging system, including a blackbody radiator, as a non-intrusive technique to characterize the behavior of a flow field, particularly one that is cold and non-reactive. A canonical jet in crossflow configuration is used, with carbon dioxide as the injected gas. The difference in absorption wavelengths between carbon dioxide and the surrounding air allows for the imaging and quantification of the dynamics present in the flow field. A series of single jet configurations were investigated, varying the momentum flux ratio between the jet and the crossflow, and the ratio of carbon dioxide to air in the jet gas mixture. Results indicate that jet profiles can be measured and quantified through the infrared image data.