Droplet combustion in the presence of acoustic excitation

This experimental study focused on droplet combustion characteristics for various liquid fuels during exposure to external acoustical perturbations generated within an acoustic waveguide. The alternative liquid fuels include alcohols, aviation fuel (JP-8), and liquid synthetic fuel derived via the Fischer–Tropsch process. The study examined combustion during excitation conditions in which the droplet was situated in the vicinity of a pressure node (PN). In response to such acoustic excitation, the flame surrounding the droplet was observed to be deflected, on average, with an orientation depending on the droplet’s relative position with respect to the PN. Flame orientation was always found to be consistent with the sign of a theoretical bulk acoustic acceleration, analogous to a gravitational acceleration, acting on the burning system. Yet experimentally measured acoustic accelerations based on mean flame deflection differed quantitatively from that predicted by the theory. Phase-locked OH^∗ chemiluminescence imaging revealed temporal oscillations in flame standoff distance from the droplet as well as chemiluminescent intensity; these oscillations were especially pronounced when the droplets were situated close to the PN. Simultaneous imaging and pressure measurements enabled quantification of combustion-acoustic coupling via the Rayleigh index, and hence a more detailed understanding of dynamical phenomena associated with acoustically coupled condensed phase combustion processes.