Spatiotemporal flame mapping in a large-bore marine diesel engine using multiple high-speed cameras

A calibrated multiple high-speed camera arrangement recording the flame emission from three different directions has been demonstrated on an engine. From the multiple views, the flame position inside the engine cylinder can be spatially mapped, allowing quantitative studies of the dynamics of ignition, flame development and propagation. Through space carving, the three-dimensional flame contour can be estimated. From this contour, properties like flame length, flame height, ignition locations and flame directions can be extracted. The technique is demonstrated by measurements on diesel flames inside a marine two-stroke engine with a bore diameter of 500 mm. It is found to be a valuable tool for spatiotemporal flame mapping in this asymmetric industrial combustion system.