UConnRCMPy: Python-based data analysis for Rapid Compression Machines

Abstract

The ignition delay of a fuel/air mixture is an important quantity in designing combustion devices, and these data are also used to validate chemical kinetic models for combustion. One of the typical experimental devices used to measure the ignition delay is called a Rapid Compression Machine (RCM). This paper presents UConnRCMPy, an open-source Python package to process experimental data from the RCM at the University of Connecticut. Given an experimental measurement, UConnRCMPy computes the thermodynamic conditions in the reaction chamber of the RCM during an experiment along with the ignition delay. UConnRCMPy implements an extensible framework, so that alternative experimental data formats can be incorporated easily. In this way, UConnRCMPy improves the consistency of RCM data processing and enables the community to reproduce data analysis procedures.

Fuel molecular structure effect on autoignition of highly branched iso-alkanes at low-to-intermediate temperatures: Iso-octane versus iso-dodecane

“…The first type is 'RCM simulation' that accounts for the machine-specific effect by modeling it as volume change [40]. The detailed descriptions of the RCM simulations can be found in Weber and Sung [38] and Dames et al [53]. Briefly, a combined pressure trace is used to deduce the time history of reactor volume.…”

“…A Python package UConnRCMPy [38] is used for data processing raw experimental pressure traces.…”

A Rapid Compression Machine Study of 2-Phenylethanol Autoignition at Low-To-Intermediate Temperatures

“…The fuel-ox dizer mixtures are prepared in a pre-vacuumed mixing tank which is connected to th RCM reaction chamber by a heated manifold. The raw experimental pressure traces are processed using a Python package calle UConnRCMPy [14] to determine the resulting TC, PC, and IDT. Specifically, TC can be com puted from the pressure profile obtained in the compression stroke by applying the "ad abatic core hypothesis" [15] via ∫ = ln , where γ is the temperature-dependen specific heat ratio.…”

“…Figure 2a demonstrates that the reactive pressure trace prior to the h ignition is well-captured by its non-reactive counterpart. The raw experimental pressure traces are processed using a Python package called UConnRCMPy [14] to determine the resulting T C , P C , and IDT. Specifically, T C can be computed from the pressure profile obtained in the compression stroke by applying the "adiabatic core hypothesis" [15] via…”

QUANTIS: Data quality assessment tool by clustering analysis

“…An example of such an effort is the recently developed ChemKED, solving the problem of a standardized data‐storing format for combustion . Another example, developed by Weber et al, for rapid compression machines, shows an automated processing and analysis solution for combustion experimental data. An example for developing catalytic reaction mechanisms is the open software tool, CaRMeN, , that provides a way to archive and combine experimental and modeling information as well as computer simulations.…”