An automated thermophoretic soot sampling device for laboratory-scale high-pressure flames

Area of Science:

• Combustion Science
• Particle Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• Accurate soot particle morphology analysis is crucial for understanding combustion processes.
• Existing thermophoretic sampling devices face limitations in high-pressure environments (>1 atm).
• Pneumatically driven samplers struggle when burner chamber pressure exceeds pneumatic pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a novel pneumatically driven thermophoretic sampling device for high-pressure flames.
• To overcome the pressure differential limitations of current sampling technologies.
• To enable precise and reproducible soot particle sampling in combustion research up to 90 bars.

Main Methods:

• A novel pneumatically driven sampling device was designed and fabricated.
• The key innovation involves separating the pneumatic driver from the high-pressure burner chamber.
• The device was tested in a laminar high-pressure flame at 20 bars.

Main Results:

• The developed device successfully sampled soot particles from a high-pressure flame.
• The separation of the pneumatic driver proved effective in overcoming pressure limitations.
• Demonstrated feasibility for soot sampling in pressures up to 90 bars.

Conclusions:

• The novel device design enhances precision, speed, and reproducibility in thermophoretic sampling.
• This technology advances the study of soot morphology in high-pressure combustion.
• Opens new avenues for research in high-pressure flame analysis and material science.