Preliminary study on ECT imaging of flames in porous media

This preliminary study for the first time investigated the feasibility of tomographic monitoring of flames in porous media, in which the cross-sectional profiles of flames inside a porous medium were imaged by electrical capacitance tomography (ECT). The relationship between the flame ionization and relative permittivity was established as the basis for ECT imaging of flames. Image reconstruction algorithms were discussed and an online iterative method OIOR was selected for image reconstruction. Experimental measurements were carried out and images of the flames were reconstructed. The shape, size and motion of the flames in a porous block were clearly monitored. Also the images correspond clearly to the variations of the combustion intensity. The feasibility of ECT monitoring of flames in porous media is proven by this study.