Combustion Analysis

Most combustion reactions generate infrared-active gases such as carbon dioxides (CO₂) and water vapor as well as known pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x). On this regard, infrared imaging represents an interesting diagnostic tool as it allows chemical imaging and temperature measurement at the same time. High-speed infrared imaging is useful for characterizing fuel injection, ignition and combustion in internal combustion engines (ICE), gas turbines or jet engines, regarding which lowering fuel consumption and soot generation represents an important research aspect.

Scientists have developed several theoretical models to better understand and predict various aspects of wildfire behaviour. However, the lack of experimental data from real wildfires renders the validation of the models difficult and thus limits their applicability.

Recently, scientists have been collecting a wide of range of data from large prescribed fires by bringing together different instruments such as fast infrared cameras.

The goal was to collect data on every aspect of the fire at once, in order to improve the models scientists and land managers use to predict the impacts of large fires.