Instability of a Flame Front in a Lean H2-N2O Mixture

TL;DR

This study visualizes flame propagation and surface instabilities in a lean hydrogen-nitrous oxide mixture, revealing complex dynamics driven by diffusive and hydrodynamic interactions during spark ignition.

Contribution

It provides high-speed schlieren imaging of flame surface instabilities in a lean H2-N2O mixture, highlighting the interplay of diffusive and hydrodynamic effects.

Findings

Observation of complex flame surface instabilities

Identification of diffusive and hydrodynamic instability interactions

Visualization of flame dynamics in a lean H2-N2O mixture

Abstract

Spark ignition and subsequent flame propagation in a premixed, fuel-lean (equivalence ratio of 0.4) H2-N2O mixture are shown in this fluid dynamics video. High-speed schlieren photography was used to visualize the flame propagation and the complex instabilities that developed on the flame surface. The instabilities are a result of the competition between diffusive processes at the flame front and hydrodynamic instability.