Determination of Temperature in a Low Pressure Flame

Author: Lobdell, John Henry

Year: 1951

Degree: Engineer's thesis

Advisor: Marble, Frank E.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Aeronautics

DOI: 10.7907/MTQ1-K461

Abstract

The extended dimensions of a flame zone which result from reducing the ambient pressure below 10 mm. Hg provide possibility for detailed investigation of flame chemistry and thermodynamics. The present investigation constitutes the first part of a detailed survey of the temperature distribution in an oxy—acetylene flame and describes the instrumentation and development of the modified Schmidt Technique for measuring flame temperature and the measurement of the maximum temperature in the flame.

The results indicate the maximum flame temperature to be within plus or minus 30°C. of the equilibrium flame temperature at 4.3 mm. Hg. The technique developed, while laborious, may be used to determine flame temperature with a good degree of accuracy.

The work was carried on with the financial support of the U. S. Army Ordnance Corps and the U. S. Air Force Air Materiel Command as part of a study of low pressure combustion under way at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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