Research focuses on the experimental investigation of multi-phase combustion phenomena, from the fundamentals of chemistry to the physics of fluid flows. There are three primary research thrusts of interest: (1) Power & Energy (gas-phase and spray combustion in gas-turbine and diesel engines, solid-fuel combustion in rockets/ramjets); (2) Fire Suppression (liquid pool/spray fires, gas/aerosol/foam suppression agents); and (3) Pollution Remediation (in-situ burning of crude oil spills, wellhead blowout combustion). Several laser-based and optical diagnostic techniques are employed to identify and monitor relevant species concentrations, temperatures, and flow parameters, including: coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy, spontaneous Raman scattering, phase Doppler anemometry (PDA), particle image velocimetry (PIV), multi-wavelength pyrometry, laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), and emission spectroscopy. Labs are equipped with high-speed visible and infrared video cameras, FTIR spectrometers, Czerny-Turner spectrographs, holographic spectrographs, intensified CCD (iCCD) cameras, electron-multiplied CCD (EM-CCD) cameras, and photomultiplier tube (PMT) detectors. Full information about ongoing research in our section (Code 6185, Combustion & Reacting Transport) can be found at the following web address: https://www.nrl.navy.mil/chemistry/research/6180/6185. Also see related opportunities: “Rarified Gas Flow Diagnostics” (64.15.15.B8439) and “Combustion Modeling” (64.15.15.B2779).

Additional Benefits

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.