Feasibility study of whole-field pressure measurements in gas flows: molecular tagging manometry

Outlined in this paper are the theoretical foundation, implementation framework and experimental demonstration of a new diagnostic technique for non-intrusive, whole-field measurement of pressure within gasses. The new technique, which is referred to as molecular tagging manometry (MTM), relies on oxygen quenching of phosphorescence emission from photo-excited tracers in oxygen-containing gases. As the pressure increases, the density of oxygen becomes larger, leading to a shorter emission lifetime: a working principle that is similar to pressure sensitive paint but applied within the body of the flow rather than on the wall. Using an experimental apparatus that is built around a pressure vessel, the viability of MTM is demonstrated for the first time using acetone as a tracer. Furthermore, the experimentally recorded response is compared to theoretical predictions, and the sensitivity of MTM's response to the uncertainty of various parameters is analyzed.