Abstract

Laser-induced fluorescence measurements are performed in silica nanopowder-producing low pressure flat flames in a stagnation-point flowfield. Spatial hydroxl concentrations and two-line rotational temperature measurements are obtained for several conditions to asses the effect on the flame of the addition of the silica precursor hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and to evaluate the validity of the one-dimensional stagnation-point flow model for these flames. It is observed that, while the HMDS has little effect on the flame temperature profile, the OH concentration is substantially reduced throughout the flames. In addition, significant non-uniformities at the burner face appear to be present which limit the applicability of the 1-D model for this flow geometry.

© 1996 Optical Society of America