Soot particle size distribution measurements in a premixed flame using photon correlation spectroscopy

Abstract

We have measured the first two moments of the soot particle size distribution in premixed methane/oxygen flames using the dynamic light scattering technique, photon correlation spectroscopy. Measurements were performed in a flat flame burner as a function of fuel-oxidizer equivalence ratio and height above burner. We demonstrated the ability of photon correlation spectroscopy to extract two moments, the most probable radius r0, and the geometric width σ of an assumed zeroth-order lognormal distribution. We found that the geometric width σ decreased with increasing height above the burner. Values for number density and total soot volume were also obtained. We discuss benefits of and problems with the measurement technique.