Flame front detection and characterization using conditioned particle image velocimetry (CPIV)

We investigate the ability of the conditioned particle image velocimetry technique (CPIV) to derive the actual flame front position in turbulent premixed flames. In CPIV, the flame front shape is deduced from the step in the particle number density in PIV images caused by the steep temperature increase in the reaction zone of premixed flames. In a validation experiment the true flame front position is deduced for comparison from simultaneous heat release measurements using planar LIF measurements of OH and CH(2)O. It is found that CPIV yields nearly the same spatial position as the heat release measurements or the steepest slope in the OH distribution. Furthermore, statistical quantities, derived from the extracted flame front shape, like the spatially resolved turbulent flux, the flame surface density and the flame front curvature are compared, showing negligible differences between the applied methods.