The KAUST rapid compression machine (RCM) has a dual-opposed piston configuration which gives significantly reduced compression times compared with a single piston arrangement. Characteristic test times of up to 500 ms can be achieved to probe low-temperature chemistry.

The RCM has a 50 mm chamber bore and can be used to achieve post compression conditions of 10-40 bar and 500-1000 K. A heating jacket is used to reach initial chamber temperatures up to 150 C. The piston heads are creviced to preserve temperature homogeneity within the combustion chamber and avoid boundary layer mixing with the core gas.

• Ignition delay time measurements
• Low-temperature kinetics
• Speciation with laser diagnostics