Emulsified jet fuel flame characterization with image processing

Abstract This work describes a RGB digital image processing approach of emulsified jet fuel flame, which allows the characterization of the combustion phenomenon in the case of new fuels through color chemiluminiscence measurements. By applying RGB techniques, the image processing of the flame reveals useful parameters in an effective and cost-efficient technique for the determination of relevant chemical species, such as CH* and C 2 *, equivalence ratio, and temperature estimation. Second generation emulsified aviation fuels containing water-jet fuel have been a challenge for simultaneous thrust augmentation and pollution diminution, with subsequent cost reduction and fossil fuel dependence. Testing new fuels would normally require expensive equipment and reliable investigation techniques, while image processing proved to be a reliable method for the estimation of combustion chemical species and temperature in the case of classic fuels. For the combustion behavior of emulsified jet fuel, a co-annular spray burner was used, allowing the complex investigation with UV-VIS spectrometer and flame photography. RGB image processing techniques showed good agreement with more complicated diagnosis tools, such as spectrometers.