Saturated fluorescence measurements of the hydroxyl radical in laminar high-pressure C2H6/O2/N2 flames

Saturation of a transition of the OH molecule in high-pressure flames is demonstrated by obtaining saturation curves in C2H6/O2/N2 laminar flames at 1, 6.1, 9.2, and 12.3 atm. Quantitative fluorescence measurements of OH number density at pressures to 12.3 atm are presented. To assess the efficacy of the balanced cross-rate model for high-pressure flames, laser-saturated fluorescence measurements, which were calibrated in an atmospheric-pressure flame, are compared with absorption measurements at 3.1 and 6.1 atm. At 3.1 atm the absorption and fluorescence measurements compare well. At 6.1 atm, however, the concentrations given by lasre-saturated fluorescence are about 25 percent lower than the absorption values, indicating some depletion of the laser-coupled levels beyond that at atmospheric pressure. By using a reasonable estimate for the finite sensitivity to quenching, it is anticipated that fluorescence measurements that are calibrated at 1 atm can be applied to flames at about 10 atm with absolute errors within +/- 50 percent.