Senior Researcher CSIII, Laboratory of Solid-State Quantum Electronics
National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR)
ABSTRACT:
The ever-increasing demand for energy efficiency and reduced emissions has led to the development of multidisciplinary approaches in aerospace propulsion. In this context, plasma-assisted combustion (PAC) has emerged as a promising field of research for improving the performance of the next generation of engines.
This seminar will discuss recent progress in PAC technology in the areas of Laser Ignition (LI) and flame stabilization using nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharges (NRP). A novel LI technique using a combination of ultra-violet and near-infrared laser pulses to achieve successful ignition with a significant energy reduction. Interestingly, this dual-pulse technique was shown to enable control over the flame kernel dynamics, which could also be useful for flame holding in scramjet engines. Looking beyond LI, the post-ignition flame stabilization under fuel-lean operation is also of interest for future aircraft engines. However, the complex interplay between the thermal, kinetic, and gasdynamic mechanisms governing the PAC process requires combustion data at engine-relevant conditions (i.e., high pressures and temperatures). Here, the use of ultra-fast laser diagnostics can be a game-changer. The seminar will introduce a new laser diagnostic technique based on femtosecond excitation, which is insensitive to collisional quenching. This technique expands the capability of current diagnostics to measure important combustion intermediates such as CO, O, H, N, NO at above-atmospheric pressure conditions and high temperatures, making them relevant tools for improving our understanding of the combustion process.
BIO: Ciprian Dumitrache is a senior research scientist at the Solid-State Quantum Electronics Laboratory, which is part of the National Institute for Lasers, Plasma & Radiation Physics (INFLPR) from Bucharest, Romania. Ciprian began his graduate research career in 2011 as a Fulbright Scholar at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned his Master’s degree working under Prof. Ben Zinn on the topic of active control of combustion instabilities in rocket engines. Between 2013 and 2017, he pursued a PhD degree at Colorado State University, where he worked under Prof. Azer P. Yalin on the topic of laser ignition. Upon graduation, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Ecole CentraleSupélec in Paris on the topic of laser diagnostics for plasma. His current research interests include plasma-assisted combustion, advanced optical diagnostics, computational fluid dynamics, and nonequilibrium flows. His research contributions have been recognized with the AIAA’s “Best Paper Award”, AIAA’s “Gordon C. Oates” Airbreathing Propulsion Award, and the CSU Drivers for Innovation Award.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4346246698
