The addition of hydrogen and oxygen to a hydrocarbon fuel mixture has significant effect on its sooting tendencies at high pressures. Understanding the mechanism behind and rates of soot formation are key to proper chemical modeling of fireballs. The objective of this research is to investigate the soot formation rates and soot induction times of several intermediary chemicals found in energetic material (EM) combustion. Three common EM combustion intermediaries, acetylene, ethylene, and propyne are studied. Hydrogen and oxygen are added to the hydrocarbon fuel to observe their effect on parameters such as induction time and total soot yield. A laser absorption spectroscopy system was utilized to measure soot formation time history during experiments. The diagnostic instrument employs a low-noise continuous wave laser at 635 nm. The laser was transmitted through the test section of a shock tube device and its intensity during an experiment was measured. The data was used to determine soot volume fraction, estimated soot yield, and soot induction times. This work will extend the chemical modeling capabilities of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with improved understanding of soot formation in fireball conditions.
Subith Vasu, Committee Chair.
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