The Structure of a Reaction-Broadened Diffusion Flame

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Abstract
Results of an experimental investigation of the structure of flat diffusion flames on a Parker-Wolf hard burner are compared with theoretical predictions of perturbation solutions which incorporate realistic schemes for the chemical kinetics. Measurements of hydroxyl radical concentrations show that the flames are reaction-broadened for temperatures below I950°K, while at higher temperatures reaction zone structure is of equilibrium-broadened type. Experiment also shows that, close to extinction, there is significant convective transfer of material from one stream to the other at the flame base. It is suggested that the consequent disruption of mixing in, or shielding of, the reaction zone makes extinction a progressive process. Complementary studies of spherical and counter flow diffusion flames suggest that the former geometry is preferable in future studies designed to test hypotheses about the role of kinetics in diffusion flame extinction.

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