This research proposal attempts to obtain information on the transient radiation characteristics of strongly radiating flames. The authors have noted that previous attempts at predicting emission temperatures, absorption coefficients, and radiative heat fluxes for such flames have been in considerable error, and they propose that the cause of this may be due to the misinterpretation of data which includes both spatial variations and temporal variation. Previous analyses have not attempted to separate these effects. However, the authors presented ample evidence to indicate that, because of the high level of turbulence in the flames of interest, temporal fluctuations are indeed present. The approach is a coordinated experimental/analytical study. The experimental program is innovative and ambitious. It will attempt to obtain simultaneous time resolved measurements of temperature, soot absorption coefficient, and Carbon Dioxide concentration at various positions in an acetylene/air diffusion flame. The analytical approach is novel in that it will attempt to follow the history of a parcel of fuel through its trajectory within the turbulent flame. Both studies will be closely connected for correlation. The study proposed is a very important problem in a variety of power generation, environmental, and industrial applications, and the fundamental knowledge as proposed is very much in need.
