Announcing the Final Examination of Juan Cruz Pellegrini for the degree of Master of Science
The Navy is interested in comparing multi-thermocouple probes, tested in the field, with scanned laser absorption thermometry. This comparison aims to understand the effects of excess Carbon Monoxide (CO) and carbon (soot) resulting from rich nitromethane (CH3NO2) combustion events interacting with the outside air, as well as aluminum catalysts, on the temperature of the ensuing fireball. These interactions create mixing zones with varying gas temperature and composition. Currently, research at the UCF shock tube involves taking preliminary CO-scanned thermometry data with the goal of comparing thermocouple insert results in the future. The thermocouple insert is securely positioned within a specially designed end wall and protected by a heat shield. By comparing the temperature measurements obtained by one-dimensional shock relations with those obtained through scanned laser thermometry, based on CO characterization experiments conducted previously on the same shock tube, we aim to analyze temperature measurements and evaluate how the presence of the thermocouple insert affects the incident shockwave geometry, as well as the resulting reflected wave and temperature conditions. The goal is to observe any discrepancies in temperature measurements between the one-dimensional shock relations and the scanned laser method. This will enable researchers to assess the impact of the thermocouple insert in testing environments. Experiments were conducted using a mixture of 3% carbon monoxide (CO), 20% helium (He), and 77% argon (Ar), with an expected temperature range of 950 - 1950K, at pressures of 0.7 - 1 atmosphere (atm).
Committee in Charge:
Subith Vasu, Chair, MAE
Michael Kinzel, Professor
Richard Blair, professor
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