PROFESSOR RONNEY'S RESEARCH

This image shows a weak hydrogen-air flame flame propagating through a narrow channel under conditions similar to those of the combustion chamber of an automotive engine. Unlike flames in unconfined spaces, it is found that when the flames are confined to narrow channels they inevitably wrinkle in ways that are not predicted by current computer models of engine combustion. It is anticipated that these studies could lead to more accurate combustion models that will enable the design of cleaner, more fuel-efficient engines. This image was taken in Prof. Ronney’s Combustion Physics Laboratory by his graduate student Jonathan Gross.