PSI-22 · ACME E-FIELD Flames
“The objective of this investigation is to better understand the relationship between electric field voltage and chemi-ion current, analyze the dynamic response of flames to electric field changes, evaluate soot formation, and characterize stabilized near-limit lifted flames.” [PSI JSON: objective]
“The E-FIELD flames experiment investigates how electric fields influence the behavior of laminar diffusion flames in microgravity.” [PSI JSON: approach]
Overview
Objective [text]
The objective of this investigation is to better understand the relationship between electric field voltage and chemi-ion current, analyze the dynamic response of flames to electric field changes, evaluate soot formation, and characterize stabilized near-limit lifted flames.
Source
data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: objective · PSI investigationApproach [text]
The E-FIELD flames experiment investigates how electric fields influence the behavior of laminar diffusion flames in microgravity. This unique environment is ideal for isolating electric field effects from buoyancy forces. The experiment is conducted with gas-fueled flames, both with and without a coflow of air. In the former case, the tests are conducted using the same coflow burner used by the Coflow Laminar Diffusion (CLD) Flame experiment. An electric field is generated by creating a high voltage (up to 10 kV) differential between the burner and a flat circular mesh suspended above (i.e., downstream of) the burner. Measurements, as a function of the field strength and fuel, are taken of the ion current through the flame and the flame’s response time to electric forcing. The gas-jet burner is used to create a small, focused flame for detailed ion-driven convection studies while the coflow burner surrounds the fuel jet with a weak synthetic air flow to enable flame stability and soot behavior analysis. A high-voltage copper mesh electrode positioned above the burner tip generated an electric field with controlled polarity and strength. The electric field interacts with ions generated through chemi-ionization during combustion, driving ion-driving convection and influencing flame behavior. Methane and ethylene were used as fuels and diluted with nitrogen to control flame strength. Dilution levels were varied to explore a range of combustion dynamics, from highly stable to near-extinction flames. Voltage-current curves were recorded to assess the relationship between electric field strength and chemi-ion current, revealing ion-driven convection effects. High-resolution cameras captured flame shape, luminosity, and soot distribution. Spectral imaging with filters measures chemiluminescent emissions and soot volume fraction. There were thermopile detectors to measure flame radiant emissions. All experiments were conducted in the combustion integrated rack (CIR). Tests were administered with Glenn Research Center (GRC) directing astronaut actions. Parameters such as fuel flow rate, coflow velocity, and field polarity are were varied to isolate specific effects on ion production, flame stability, and soot behavior.
Source
data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: approach · PSI investigationHypothesis [text]
The application of electric fields in microgravity environments will significantly influence laminar diffusion flames by enabling precise manipulation of flame stability, soot behavior, and combustion dynamics through ion-driven convection and chemi-ionization processes.
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data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: hypothesis · PSI investigationResearch impacts [text]
The E-FIELD Flames research is not being conducted to serve any space applications, but it is possible that its findings could aid the development of future space-based combustion devices (e.g., for solid waste processing). The use of electric fields to control flames can reduce the production of harmful pollutants in practical terrestrial combustion. The combustion of fossil fuel is the primary human source of greenhouse gas and acid rain and furthermore creates soot, which can be beneficial but is also a health hazard. Combustion using electrical fields may also allow for more efficient combustion, reducing fuel consumption in addition to unwanted emissions.
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data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: researchImpacts · PSI investigationHardware [text]
Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR), ACME
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data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: experimentHardware · PSI investigationFlight program [text]
International Space Station (ISS)
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data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: flightProgram · PSI investigationStart date [text]
11-18-2016
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data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: investigationStartDate · PSI investigationEnd date [text]
11-17-2020
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data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: investigationEndDate · PSI investigationTests
20 tests with extracted table records (SAME-R aging sub-runs grouped by parent ID) · 29 extracted values (source: data/conditions/PSI-22.csv).
Variation is observed in extracted values; it does not establish the experimental design.
| Variable | Observed | Distinct values / tests | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel [data/conditions/PSI-22.csv] | distinct values as recorded | 4 / 20 | 100% C2H4, 100% CH4, 30% C2H4, 40% CH4 |
Loading test data…
Additional outcome cells, where available, are displayed as written. Source: data/derived/outcomes_extra.csv.
Instruments mentioned in the approach
Measurements, as a function of the field strength and fuel, are taken of the ion current through the flame and the flame’s response time to electric forcing. [data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: approach] PSI investigation
Spectral imaging with filters measures chemiluminescent emissions and soot volume fraction. [data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: approach] PSI investigation
Experimental table columns
- Test Type [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
- Test Day [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
- Year [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
- Month [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
- Mesh Polarity [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
- Fuel Bottle [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
- Fuel Conc [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
- Flames Ignited [table] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/Experimental table/PSI-22_Experimental table_ACME E-FIELD Flames.csv · PSI investigation
Data
Publications
- Ion Current and Flame Changes with Electric Fields in Microgravity [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Electric Field Induced Changes of a Diffusion Flame and Heat Transfer near an Impinging Surface 10.3390/en11051235 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Electrical Aspects of Impinging Flames [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- The Influence of Electric Field Power Systems on Flame Behavior [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Ionization and chemiluminescence during the progressive aeration of methane flames 10.1016/j.combustflame.2009.08.008 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Modelling electric field driven convection in small combustion plasmas and surrounding gases 10.1080/13647830701383814 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Canceling buoyancy of gaseous fuel flames in a gravitational environment using an ion-driven wind. 10.1196/annals.1362.038 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Detailed characterization of DC electric field effects on small non-premixed flames 10.1016/j.combustflame.2015.03.019 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Microgravity burner-generated spherical diffusion flames: experiment and computation. Currently at Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106. 10.1016/S0010-2180(01)00247-4 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- PLIF and chemiluminescence in a small laminar coflow methane-air diffusion flame at elevated pressures 10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112067 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Ion current and carbon monoxide release from an impinging methane/air coflow flame in an electric field 10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.03.022 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Non-premixed axisymmetric flames driven by ion currents 10.1016/j.combustflame.2018.10.036 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Impinging nonpremixed coflow methane–air flames with unity Lewis number 10.1016/j.proci.2016.06.193 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Characterizing I-V Curves for Non-Premixed Methane Flames Stabilized on Different Burner Configurations 10.1080/00102202.2017.1331218 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- CO emission from an impinging non-premixed flame 10.1016/j.combustflame.2016.09.004 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Electrical aspects of flame quenching 10.1016/j.proci.2012.07.007 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Behavior of a small diffusion flame as an electrically active component in a high-voltage circuit 10.1016/j.combustflame.2011.06.002 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Numerical prediction of ion current from a small methane jet flame 10.1016/j.combustflame.2009.02.002 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Electric field-controlled mesoscale burners 10.1016/j.combustflame.2007.07.007 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Numerical simulation of a tubular ion-driven wind generator 10.1016/j.elstat.2007.04.003 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Using large electric fields to control transport in microgravity. 10.1196/annals.1362.037 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Maximizing ion-driven gas flows 10.1016/j.elstat.2005.09.005 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Inducing gas flow and swirl in tubes using ionic wind from corona discharges 10.1007/s00348-005-0062-0 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Modeling of Elevated Pressure Diffusion Flames with Water Addition 10.1080/00102202.2023.2182205 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
- Electric-field effects on methane coflow flames aboard the international space station (ISS): ACME E-FIELD flames 10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112443 [data/manifest/publications.csv]
Data reuse
PSI-23 [text] data/raw/psi-data/PSI-22/_investigation/PSI-22.json: related_glds · PSI investigation
PSI page
PSI page data/manifest/web_check_2026-11-14.csv: line 1 URL pattern