CTS-0521136<br/>I. Rabovitser, Gas Technology Institute<br/><br/>This grant is to acquire two instruments that will make it possible to obtain much needed imagery of flame and burner characteristics. The first instrument is a set of high-speed, (several hundred frames per second) high capacity digital (CCD-charged couple display) cameras to digitally image the time evolution of flames during both stable and unstable conditions. The second instrument is a laser to enable PLIF (planar laser-induced fluorescence) measurements. These instruments will be used to study the mechanisms of flame instability. The equipment will support research in two areas of broad technical and societal impact:<br/>(1) Increased efficiency and lower emissions for industrial furnaces; the requested equipment will support research that will provide insight, in real-world-scale working furnaces and boilers, on how to design furnaces and burners that address the "Clear Skies Initiative" and "Global Climate Change Initiatives." <br/>(2) Under certain conditions, carbon nanotubes can be produced in the boiler combustion chamber, leading to the possibility of large-scale nanotube production with state-of-the-art quality. A study of the flame structure during nanoparticle formation and processing is a key to understanding and controlling the nanotube production process. The equipment will support research on the fundamental mechanisms of nanotube development in working furnaces and provide a basis for the development of production methods for nano-scale components on an industrial scale.