A Comparison of Spray Properties for Model Fuel and Diesel Using Several Optical Methods

Other conference contribution, 2004

Many experiments are carried out using a model fuel, for instance for measurement technique reasons. These data are usually transferred to situations where standard diesel fuel is used. The objective of this work is to characterize the liquid and vapour phase penetration of two different diesel fuels, one two-component model fuel, IDEA (70% n-decane and 30% α-methylnaphthalene) and one standard diesel fuel (Swedish Environmental Class I), when injected into air with density corresponding to early injections up to self ignition conditions in diesel engines. The experimental study was carried out in the high-pressure, high-temperature (HP/HT) spray rig at Chalmers, which was pressurized in the range of 4 to 85 bar and with temperature ranging from 400 to 800 K. A common-rail injection system with a single hole nozzle was used. Several optical methods (Schlieren, Shadowgraph, LIF (Laser Induced Fluorescence) and Mie-scattering) were used together or separately which allow a comparison of the output. Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA) was used for the two fuels as a complement to the planar methods. Results from measurements show that there are differences in liquid penetration, fuel vaporization and droplet distribution in between the fuels and relatively good agreement between the methods