Important combustion species detection by flame natural emission spectroscopy in perforated burner

In the present research, combustion species detection in methane/air flame is carried out based on Flame Emission Spectroscopy (FES). Experimental investigation is performed on a test rig equipped with measurement devices to get the flame emission of a perforated burner which is one of most popular burners used in condensation boilers. Combustion species H2O*, OH*, CH* and C2* are detected from their chemiluminescence The emission of OH* radical was investigated for different equivalence ratios (Φ) and burner powers showing an intensity peak in the range of Φ between 0.77 to 0.85 that corresponds to the maximum heat release rate. Emission of H2O* was also investigated leading to its maximum at Φ=0.82 which shows the most complete combustion equation for different burner powers. The similar experiment showed that OH*/CH* intensity ratio was independent of burner power as is confirmed by previous researchers. One could infer equivalence ratio from the flame emission. Burner surface temperature was also targeted by an infrared thermometer with the purpose of finding the maximum surface temperature of 415 to 420oC which happened at nearly Φ=0.82 for all burner powers. Finding equivalence ratio of the burner by using its natural emission and improving its efficiency by the method of investigating combustion specifications relating to heat release rate is the basis of this work.