Plasma and Combustion Research Laboratory (PCRL)

Dr. Omid Askari is an Assistant Professor in the Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Institute at Mississippi State University (MSU). Dr. Askari received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University (NEU) in Boston and continued his postdoctoral work in the Energy and Combustion Research Laboratory before joining MSU. He is the director of Plasma and Combustion Research Laboratory (PCRL) and has performed extensive research on spray/combustion fundamental characteristics, air/fuel plasma formation, spark ignition, chemical kinetics and alternative fuels. He has over 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals, conferences and book chapters and has also received several awards from universities and organizations worldwide.

The Plasma and Combustion Research Laboratory is located in the Energy Institute at Mississippi State University. The PCRL has an optical Constant Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC), an optically-accessible variable compression ratio Rapid Compression Expansion Machine (RCEM) and a coflow single-element burner for combustion characteristics, flame instability, spray development, auto-ignition, flame kernel and plasma assisted ignition/combustion studies. To investigate spray formation, fuel distribution field, flame structure and species concentrations, PCRL is equipped with optical and laser diagnostics such as schlieren/shadowgraph imaging, spatially integrated light emissions and Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) systems along with a high speed CMOS camera coupled to a high-speed UV image intensifier. For plasma-assisted ignition/combustion studies, the low-temperature plasma is supplied using a high-voltage repetitive nanosecond pulse (RNP) plasma generator

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