Experimental study of carbon-free combustion
ApplyProject Description
A major goal of combustion research is to reduce emissions and minimize the harmful impact of energy production and transportation on the environment. Advancements in combustion sciences enabled strong reduction of NOX, SOX and particulates. The challenge for the next decade is reduction of carbon dioxide. One strategy is to completely remove carbon from the fuel, using carbon-free hydrogen carrier such as ammonia. Combustion of ammonia is not well understood, and no detailed information on the flame of ammonia-air flames is available. In this project the student will perform 1D Raman measurements of temperature and major species in ammonia flames in collaboration with a postdoc or a Ph.D. student.




About the
Researcher
Gaetano Magnotti
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Magnotti’s primary research interests are advanced laser diagnostics and imaging, turbulent combustion and supersonic combustion. He is the principal investigator of the Advanced Diagnostics laboratory and he is affiliated with the Clean Combustion Research Center.
Professor Magnotti’s group focuses on the development of quantitative, advanced laser diagnostics for high pressure combustion and on its application to the experimental investigation of fundamental combustion phenomena relevant to the design of next-generation, cleaner, and more efficient, gas turbines and engines. Detailed measurements in, carefully designed, turbulent jet flames provide great insight in the physics of turbulence-chemistry interaction, and much needed data for development and validation of computational fluid-mechanics models.
Professor Magnotti is also interested in developing laser diagnostics for optically accessible, internal combustion engines and for the study of non-thermal equilibrium flows such as those encountered in plasma assisted combustion and in hypersonic vehicles.
Professor Magnotti’s group focuses on the development of quantitative, advanced laser diagnostics for high pressure combustion and on its application to the experimental investigation of fundamental combustion phenomena relevant to the design of next-generation, cleaner, and more efficient, gas turbines and engines. Detailed measurements in, carefully designed, turbulent jet flames provide great insight in the physics of turbulence-chemistry interaction, and much needed data for development and validation of computational fluid-mechanics models.
Professor Magnotti is also interested in developing laser diagnostics for optically accessible, internal combustion engines and for the study of non-thermal equilibrium flows such as those encountered in plasma assisted combustion and in hypersonic vehicles.
Desired Project Deliverables
The student will learn the fundamental of laser spectroscopy, and will gain hands-on experience in the operation of ammonia burners, and advanced laser diagnostics. He will acquire and analyze unique experimental datasets, and advance the understanding of combustion of ammonia-air flames.