Abstract

Most propulsion and energy utilization devices rely on the spraying of liquid-phase propellants, in the form of fuel or oxidizer, into an energy conversion chamber. The behavior of individual droplets in a spray combustor is a critical part of the combustion process. Basic understanding is best advanced by well-controlled experiments and simplified calculations. A great deal of attention has been paid to studying the combustion of individual droplets, which is the simplest example of non-premixed combustion. These single-droplet flames provide an idealized geometry for investigating the interaction of the physical and chemical processes involved. A significant means of simplifying droplet combustion is to approach the phenomena in a microgravity environment.

© 1996 Optical Society of America