Presidential Young Investigator Award: Mechanisms of Flammability Limits in Premixed Gases

控制燃烧的物理因素很多，而且通常很少被了解。这在可燃性限制的情况下尤其如此，这在各种应用中都是至关重要的。这项研究将系统地寻找产生这些限制的确切机制。这将通过改变重力环境、燃烧器的几何形状和气体混合物组成来实现。在这个问题上的新见解将允许更好的耐火材料，更安全的燃烧器操作程序和更有效地利用燃料。

The physical factors which control combustion are many and generally poorly understood. This is especially true in the context of flammability limits which are critical in a variety of applications. The research will conduct a systematic search for the precise mechanisms which produce these limits. This will be done by varying the gravity environment, the geometry of the combustor and the gas mixture composition. New insights in this problem will allow for better fire resistant materials, safer operation procedures for combustors and a more efficient use of fuels.