Research | sayanbiswas

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Exploring fundamental aspects of advanced ignition systems to enable clean and efficient engine combustion strategies, with a particular focus on transient plasma ignition (TPI) using low-temperature plasma (LTP)
Investigated low-temperature transient plasma characteristics using laser measurement techniques such as 2-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence of atomic oxygen (O-TALIF), Thomson and Raman scattering, Schlieren, ozone absorption and filtered imaging of various radicals

Identified dominant chemical pathways for plasma ignition of gaseous and liquid fuels

Ozone—a powerful oxidizing chemical agent generated through onboard coronal discharges in intake air—can be used to significantly alter gasoline reactivity, and thereby enable stable auto-ignition with less initial charge heating
Ozone addition stabilized combustion relative to similar conditions without ozone by increasing end gas reactivity
However, the impact of ozone addition decreased with increased engine speed due to shorter residence times available for auto-ignition
Ozone addition can facilitate mixed-mode (SI, ACI, SACI, etc.) combustion

Designed and performed experiments to study supersonic hot jet ignition of premixed CH4/air and H2/air
Hypothesized jet ignition mechanisms (an alternative for spark-ignition engines) for environment-friendly future combustion techniques for automotive and gas turbine applications
Characterized turbulent flame propagation using high-speed Schlieren, OH* chemiluminescence, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), and Infrared (IR) imaging
Proposed a Schlieren based novel velocity measurement technique, Schlieren Image Velocimetry (SIV)
Investigated thermo-acoustic combustion instability for ultra-lean limit in constant volume combustor

Evaluated emission characteristics (NOx, SO2) of lean CH4/air and H2/air in dual chamber combustor
Numerically investigated coupling between chemistry and turbulence of supersonic reacting jet in inert medium using detailed chemistry for hydrogen and natural gas
Modeled reacting supersonic jet using Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) in ANSYS Fluent, ICEM CFD

Investigated ignition delay of Methyl Ester-based biofuel blends in High Pressure (20-60 atm) and High Temperature (1000-1500 K) Shock Tube (HPHT-ST)
Identified chemical mechanisms for biofuel blends based on shock tube data
Constructed chemical mechanisms for biofuel blends using reaction path analysis

Developed experiments to study CH4/air flame propagation through narrow channel
Examined flame propagation, stabilization, and flame extinction limits to develop combustion based micro-power generation systems such as micro aerial vehicles, microsatellite thrusters, and microchemical reactors

Investigated ignition physics by chemically reacting impinging jets to achieve superior control of ignition location and ignition delay
Identified the effect of jet interactions during reacting jet ignition process
Proposed guidelines for future pre-chamber designs for cleaner and efficient combustion

Researched blowoff dynamics of bluff-body stabilized V-shaped propane/air flames under fuel stratification and self-excited oscillations
Quantified flame behavior near blowoff using simultaneous PIV-PLIF and high-speed CH* imaging
Performed phase-locked PIV, CH* chemiluminescence, OH-PLIF, and Rayleigh scattering to investigate forced blowoff mechanisms in lab scale burner

Designed and built experiment to study mixing statistics of interacting laminar vortices
Assessed scalar distribution in vortical flow using Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) of acetone
Studied flame-vortex interactions