Client
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Project Objectives
- Develop and operate a 2-D Laser Doppler Velocimetry System (LDV) and Phase Doppler Particle Anemometry System (PDPA) in order to measure the size and velocity of burning liquid fuel droplets, and combustion product gaseous velocities, in a ramjet engine with optical access
- The development of these laser diagnostic systems is needed to measure turbulence, droplet burning, heat release, and combustion instability characteristics. These laser diagnostic systems have a spatial resolution of approximately 0.1 mm, temporal resolution of 50,000 Hz, and can measure in multiple dimensions
Summary of Project and Results (Non-Confidential)
- Assembled an Argon-Ion laser and water cooling system. Repaired the laser tube, anode, cathode, and capacitor bank by hand.
- Built a computer controlled optical table that was capable of movement in three dimensions
- Built the laser transmitting optics including beam focussing, beam shifting, filtering, and polarization
- Built the frequency shifting optics using a piezoelectric crystal and signal driver (Bragg Cell)
- Assembled the receiving optics and photomultiplier tubes which were phase shifted to determine droplet size
- Programmed the digital signal analyzer to determine droplet size, velocity, gaseous velocities, and turbulence characteristics
The Combination LDV and PDPA System