THERMOCOUPLES AND SAMPLE PROBES FOR COMBUSTION STUDIES

The importance and limitations of probe methods for making measurements in combusting systems are reviewed and discussed in terms of the contributions that they can make to improve the knowledge and the modelling of practical systems. Emphasis is on measurements of temperature, major species and ion concentrations, which are discussed in terms of the need to determine and minimize probe-induced disturbances in practical combusting flows. In addition, errors arising from the difficulty in interpreting the results in turbulent flames are discussed and the review also provides some insight into measurements of time-resolved scalar quantities.