Visualization of Steam Addition Effect on OH Distribution in a Flame by Isotope Shift/Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (IS/PLIF) Spectroscopy

Addition of steam to a flame has important implications in the combustion process. The dissociation of the added steam (e.g., $H2O↔H+OH$⁠, etc.) is one of the effects that contribute to the production of radical species, such as OH, H, and O, in the flame. In order to distinctly visualize two types of OH radicals produced from the fuel-air combustion reaction and that from the dissociation reaction with the added steam, we have developed a new method for planar laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with isotope shift (herein called IS/PLIF spectroscopy). This technique has been applied to examine a methane-oxygen-nitrogen premixed flame. Two-dimensional fluorescence intensity distributions of OH radicals in the flames were monitored under three different conditions. They include without steam addition, with $H2O$ steam addition, and with $D2O$ steam addition. From the experimental data obtained under the three conditions, the distinction between the two types of OH radicals could be obtained. The results showed that steam addition reduced the total concentration of OH produced from the combustion and dissociation reactions and that the dissociation reaction of the added steam contributed to the production of OH. Furthermore, the results indicated that the percentage decrease in OH from fuel-air combustion reactions due to the temperature decrease effect with steam addition was almost independent of the equivalence ratio during combustion. In contrast, the percentage increase in OH produced from dissociation reaction with the steam depended on the equivalence ratio.