Direct measurement of laminar flame quenching distance in a closed vessel

The study of flame–wall interactions is of crucial importance for the understanding of near wall combustion. One of the parameters directly responsible for heat exchange near the wall is the quenching distance. The results of direct measurements of the quenching distance during side-wall quenching and head-on quenching of premixed methane/air flame are presented. A laminar flame is produced at the centre of a rectangular combustion chamber. The experiments are performed using different wall materials: polished steel, steel covered with soot and ceramics. Flame interacts with a rectangular obstacle placed at the bottom of the combustion chamber. The quenching distance near the top of the obstacle and in the vicinity of its side-wall is measured using direct photography of the flame position near the quenching surface.