OH* 3D Concentration Measurement of Non-Axisymmetric Flame via Near-Ultraviolet Volumetric Emission Tomography

Measuring the three-dimensional (3D) concentration of the ubiquitous intermediate OH* across combustion systems, spanning carbon-based fuels to zero-carbon alternatives such as H₂ and NH₃, provides vital insights into flame topology, reaction pathways, and emission formation mechanisms. Optical imaging methods have attracted vital interests due to non-intrusiveness in the combustion process. However, achieving accurate 3D concentration of OH* via imaging in non-axisymmetric flames remains challenging. This work presents a near-ultraviolet (NUV) volumetric emission tomography-based OH* measuring method that integrates a three-layer OH* imaging model, a calibration procedure utilizing narrow-band NUV radiometry, and a threshold-constrained Local Filtered Back-Projection Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (LFBP-SART) algorithm. When applied to a non-axisymmetric Bunsen flame, the method reveals multiple small flame structures matching the fairing pattern in the reconstructed 3D OH* field, with a maximum OH* molar concentration of approximately 0.04 mol/m³ and an overall relative uncertainty of about 8.7%. Given its straightforward requirements, this technique is considered adaptable to other free radicals.