A study on the fuel injection and atomization characteristics of soybean oil methyl ester (SME)

The spray atomization characteristics of an undiluted biodiesel fuel (soybean oil methyl ester, SME) in a diesel engine were investigated and compared with that of diesel fuel (ultra low sulfur diesel, ULSD). The experimental results were compared with numerical results predicted by the KIVA-3V code. The spray characteristics of the spray tip penetration, spray area, spray centroid and injection delay were analyzed using images obtained from a visualization system. The Sauter mean diameter (SMD) was analyzed using a droplet analyzer system to investigate the atomization characteristics.It was found that the peak injection rate increases and advances when the injection pressure increases due to the increase of the initial injection momentum. The injection rate of the SME, which has a higher density than diesel fuel, is higher than that of diesel fuel despite its low injection velocity. The high ambient pressure induces the shortening of spray tip penetration of the SME. Moreover, the predicted spray tip penetration pattern is similar to the pattern observed experimentally. The SMD of the SME decreases along the axial distance. The predicted local and overall SMD distribution patterns of diesel and SME fuels illustrate similar tendencies when compared with the experimental droplet size distribution patterns.     

Multi-Technique Analysis of Soot Reactivity from Conventional and Paraffinic Diesel Fuels

A 2.0 L, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, common rail diesel engine was used for generating soot samples. Three fuels were tested: a “first fill” diesel fuel, a gas-to-liquid fuel (GTL) and a hydrotreated fuel derived from vegetable oils (HVO). A stationary low-load operating mode (1667 rpm and 78 Nm) was selected for testing, and some modifications in the injection process (strategy, timing and pressure) were evaluated experimentally to assess their influence in the soot reactivity. The collected soot samples were characterized using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), a diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrometer (DRIFTS) and a surface area analyzer. All techniques anticipated that HVO and GTL soot samples are more reactive (i.e. show higher potential to be oxidized at lower temperatures leading to more efficient regeneration processes in a Diesel Particle Filter – DPF) compared to diesel soot. Additionally, the four characterization techniques showed the same tendencies when analyzing the effect of the engine operating parameters. In view of the results, the paraffinic fuels – HVO and GTL – here tested confirm their promising perspective for future use in automotive diesel engines, while some guides are proposed to enhance the soot reactivity via calibration of engine operating parameters.     

Effect of ambient pressure on penetration of a diesel spray

In the present experimental and theoretical work the propagation of a high-speed fuel spray at distances much longer than the breakup length is studied. The motion of the spray is modeled in two regions: the main region of the steady flow and the front region of the spray. The analysis yields the equation of propagation of the tip of the spray. These theoretical results have been validated against experimental data obtained from a common-rail diesel injection nozzle and from other data available in the literature. The importance of the shock wave propagation at the initial stage of the spray injection is demonstrated.     

柴油爆炸性能外场实验研究

通过?30 mm杀爆燃弹外场炮击实验,模拟车辆、装备油箱被炮火击中后二次爆炸场景,采用高速照相机、红外热成像仪分别记录引爆柴油过程和爆炸火球的温度场,对比评估普通柴油、含水型柴油和抑爆型柴油的爆炸特性。实验结果显示:炮弹射击油箱瞬间,柴油液滴被抛撒出油箱,与空气快速混合形成气溶胶,并在炸药能量作用下引发爆炸,形成爆炸火球;不同类型柴油的爆炸火球均经历3个发展阶段,但其尺寸、扩展速率和表面温度等有较大差别,普通柴油和含水型柴油的火球这3个参数比较接近,都大于抑爆型柴油;含水型柴油的油箱毁伤容积为108.00 dm3,远高于普通柴油的57.65 dm3和抑爆型柴油的38.15 dm3。研究表明,抑爆柴油中的高分子聚合物能起到较好的抑爆作用。     

Pre- and post-injection flow characterization in a heavy-duty diesel engine using high-speed PIV

High-speed particle image velocimetry (HS-PIV) using hollow microspheres has been applied to characterize the flow in a heavy-duty diesel engine during and after fuel injection. The injection timings were varied in the range representing those used in premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) regimes, and multiple injections have been applied to investigate their influence on the flow inside the combustion chamber. By injecting into pure nitrogen, combustion is avoided and the flow can be studied long after injection. The results show a sudden change of air motion at the start of injection as a result of the air entrainment at the core of the spray. Furthermore, as expected, spray injection causes a considerable increase in the cycle-to-cycle fluctuations of the flow pattern, the more so for longer injection durations.     

Three-dimensional flow visualization in the wake of a miniature axial-flow hydrokinetic turbine

This paper examines the velocity profile of fuel issuing from a high-pressure single-orifice diesel injector. Velocities of liquid structures were determined from time-resolved ultrafast shadow images, formed by an amplified two-pulse laser source coupled to a double-frame camera. A statistical analysis of the data over many injection events was undertaken to map velocities related to spray formation near the nozzle outlet as a function of time after start of injection. These results reveal a strong asymmetry in the liquid profile of the test injector, with distinct fast and slow regions on opposite sides of the orifice. Differences of ～100 m/s can be observed between the ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ sides of the jet, resulting in different atomization conditions across the spray. On average, droplets are dispersed at a greater distance from the nozzle on the ‘fast’ side of the flow, and distinct macrostructure can be observed under the asymmetric velocity conditions. The changes in structural velocity and atomization behavior resemble flow structures which are often observed in the presence of string cavitation produced under controlled conditions in scaled, transparent test nozzles. These observations suggest that widely used common-rail supply configurations and modern injectors can potentially generate asymmetric interior flows which strongly influence diesel spray morphology. The velocimetry measurements presented in this work represent an effective and relatively straightforward approach to identify deviant flow behavior in real diesel sprays, providing new spatially resolved information on fluid structure and flow characteristics within the shear layers on the jet periphery.     

Velocity field analysis of the high density,high pressure diesel spray

In this study, particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements have been performed extensively on a non-reactive dense diesel spray injected from a single orifice injector, under various injection pressure and steady ambient conditions, in a constant flow chamber. Details of PIV setup for diesel spray measurement without additional seeding are explained first. The measured velocity profiles are compared to those obtained from other similar measurements performed in a different institution, as well as those obtained from a 1D spray model simulation, presenting in both cases a good level of agreement. In addition, the velocity fields under various injection pressures and ambient densities show the dominant effects of these parameters on the behavior of diesel spray. The self-similarity of the transverse cut profiles of axial velocity is evaluated, showing that the measurements are in agreement with the hypothesis of self-similar velocity profiles. Finally, the effect of injection pressure and ambient density on the velocity fluctuations is presented and analyzed as well. While the experimental results presented here could help to understand the complex diesel fuel–air mixing process during injection, they also provide additional spray velocity data for future computational model validation, following the main idea of the Engine Combustion Network.     

Injection characteristics simulation and analysis in diesel engines

By means of a purposely developed numerical code an investigation of injection systems in diesel engines has been carried out. Cavitation at low pressure was simulated. The experimental results obtained were compared with the numerical ones. Data on cavitation waves, in the pipe between pump and injector, were obtained during that simulation. In particular, the influence of the relief volume on cavitation volume and injected fuel rate were computed. Unstable working conditions, characterized by a large variation of the injected fuel, at the same operating point, have been experimentally investigated and simulated. Lecture delivered at the Workshop on Fluiddynamics, Combustion and Exposition in Reciprocating Engines, held at Capri in 1990.     

In-Cylinder Flow and Fuel Spray Interactions in a Stratified Spray-Guided Gasoline Engine Investigated by High-Speed Laser Imaging Techniques

Spray-guided direct injection spark-ignition engines operated in stratified charge mode have a high potential for improved fuel economy. As fuel is injected late in the compression stroke mixture preparation is crucial for reliable ignition. Multiple injections per cycle have proven to increase the overall combustion stability. Nevertheless cycle-to-cycle variations (ccv) are observed whose origin is not well understood. Strong impact of in-cylinder flows and spray-induced turbulence of preceding injections upon subsequent spray development and mixture formation is one possible reason for ccv. In this work mutual interactions of in-cylinder charge motion and sprays from multiple injections were investigated. Time resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) and Mie scattering of fuel droplets at 16 kHz was used to simultaneously measure the temporal evolution of in-cylinder flow fields and spray formation. The data revealed significant spray-induced vortices perturbing the tumble flow. Sprays from subsequent injections were disturbed and showed greatly enhanced ccv compared to the first injection. A distinct upwards fluid flow impinging the cylinder head at the injector’s location (termed funnel flow) was identified as primary origin of spray deformation for second and third injections.     

SparkJet characterizations in quiescent and supersonic flowfields

The aerodynamic community has studied active flow control actuators for some time, and developments have led to a wide variety of devices with various features and operating mechanisms. The design requirements for a practical actuator used for active flow control include reliable operation, requisite frequency and amplitude modulation capabilities, and a reasonable lifespan while maintaining minimal cost and design complexity. An active flow control device called the SparkJet actuator has been developed for high-speed flight control and incorporates no mechanical/moving parts, zero net mass flux capabilities and the ability to tune the operating frequency and momentum throughput. This actuator utilizes electrical power to deliver high-momentum flow with a very fast response time. The SparkJet actuator was characterized on the benchtop using a laser-based microschlieren visualization technique and maximum blast wave and jet front velocities of ~400 and ~310 m/s were, respectively, measured in the flowfield. An increase in jet front velocity from 240 to 310 m/s during subatmospheric (60 kPa) testing reveals that the actuator may have greater control authority at lower ambient pressures, which correspond to high-altitude flight conditions for air vehicles. A SparkJet array was integrated into a flat plate and tested in a Mach 1.5 crossflow. Phase-conditioned shadowgraph results revealed a maximum flow deflection angle of 5° created by the SparkJet 275 µs after the actuator was triggered in single-shot mode. Burst mode operation of frequencies up to 700 Hz revealed similar results during wind tunnel testing. Following these tests, the actuator trigger mechanism was improved and the ability of the actuator to be discharged in burst mode at a frequency of 1 kHz was achieved.     

Shock wave calibration of under-expanded natural gas fuel jets

Natural gas, a fuel abundant in nature, cannot be used by itself in conventional diesel engines because of its low cetane number. However, it can be used as the primary fuel with ignition by a pilot diesel spray. This is called dual-fuelling. The gas may be introduced either into the inlet manifold or, preferably, directly into the cylinder where it is injected as a short duration, intermittent, sonic jet. For accurate delivery in the latter case, a constant flow-rate from the injector is required into the constantly varying pressure in the cylinder. Thus, a sonic (choked) jet is required which is generally highly under-expanded. Immediately at the nozzle exit, a shock structure develops which can provide essential information about the downstream flow. This shock structure, generally referred to as a “barrel” shock, provides a key to understanding the full injection process. It is examined both experimentally and numerically in this paper.

---

     

The influence of fuel injection and heat release on bulk flow structures in a direct-injection, swirl-supported diesel engine

Particle image velocimetry is applied to measure the vertical (r–z) plane flow structures in a light-duty direct-injection diesel engine with a realistic piston geometry. The measurements are corrected for optical distortions due to the curved piston bowl walls and the cylindrical liner. Mean flow fields are presented and contrasted for operation both with and without fuel injection and combustion. For operation with combustion, the two-dimensional divergence of the measured mean velocity fields is employed as a qualitative indicator of the locations of mean heat release. In agreement with numerical simulations, dual-vortex, vertical plane mean flow structures that may enhance mixing rates are formed approximately mid-way through the combustion event. Late in the cycle a toroidal vortex forms outside the bowl mouth. Imaging studies suggest that soot and partially oxidized fuel trapped within this vortex are slow to mix with surrounding fluid; moreover, the vortex impedes mixing of fluid exiting the bowl with air within the squish volume.     

Shock tube studies of thermal radiation of diesel-spray combustion under a range of spray conditions

A tailored interface shock tube and an over-tailored interface shock tube were used to measure the thermal energy radiated during diesel-spray combustion of light oil, α-methylnaphthalene and cetane by changing the injection pressure. The ignition delay of methanol and the thermal radiation were also measured. Experiments were performed in a steel shock tube with a 7 m low-pressure section filled with air and a 6 m high-pressure section. Pre-compressed fuel was injected through a throttle nozzle into air behind a reflected shock wave. Monochromatic emissive power and the power emitted across all infrared wavelengths were measured with IR-detectors set along the central axis of the tube. Time-dependent radii where soot particles radiated were also determined, and the results were as follows. For diesel spray combustion with high injection pressures (from 10 to 80 MPa), the thermal radiation energy of light oil per injection increased with injection pressure from 10 to 30 MPa. The energy was about 2% of the heat of combustion of light oil at P _inj = about 30 MPa. At injection pressure above 30 MPa the thermal radiation decreased with increasing injection pressure. This profile agreed well with the combustion duration, the flame length, the maximum amount of soot in the flame, the time-integrated soot volume and the time-integrated flame volume. The ignition delay of light oil was observed to decrease monotonically with increasing fuel injection pressure. For diesel spray combustion of methanol, the thermal radiation including that due to the gas phase was 1% of the combustion heat at maximum, and usually lower than 1%. The thermal radiation due to soot was lower than 0.05% of the combustion heat. The ignition delays were larger (about 50%) than those of light oil. However, these differences were within experimental error.

---

An abridged version of this paper was presented at the 18th Int. Symposium on Shock Waves at Sendai, Japan during July 21 to 26, 1991 and at the 19th Int. Symposium on Shock Waves at Marseille, France during July 26 to 30, 1993.     

Optical investigation of the combustion behaviour inside the engine operating in HCCI mode and using alternative diesel fuel

In order to understand the effect of both the new homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion process and the use of biofuel, optical measurements were carried out into a transparent CR diesel engine. Rape seed methyl ester was used and tests with several injection pressures were performed. OH and HCO radical were detected and their evolutions were analyzed during the whole combustion. Moreover, soot concentration was measured by means the two colour pyrometry method. The reduction of particulate emission with biodiesel as compared to the diesel fuel was noted. Moreover, this effect resulted higher increasing the injection pressure. In the case of RME the oxidation of soot depends mainly from O₂ content of fuel and OH is responsible of the NO formation in the chamber as it was observed for NO_x exhaust emission. Moreover, it was investigated the evolution of HCO and CO into the cylinder. HCO was detected at the start of combustion. During the combustion, HCO oxidizes due to the increasing temperature and it produces CO. Both fuels have similar trend, the highest concentrations are detected for low injection pressure. This effect is more evident for the RME fuel.     

Numerical and experimental investigation on droplet dynamics and dispersion of a jet engine injector

In the case of turbine combustors operating with liquid fuel the combustion process is governed by the liquid fuel atomization and its dispersion in the combustion chamber. By highly unsteady flow field conditions the transient interaction between the liquid and the gaseous phase is of interest, because it results in a temporal variation of air–fuel ratio which leads to a fluctuating temperature distribution. The objective of this research was the investigation of transient flow field phenomena (e.g. large coherent structures) on droplet dynamics and dispersion of an isothermal flow (of inert water droplets) as a necessary first step towards a full analysis of spray combustion in real-life devices. The advanced injector system for lean jet engine combustors PERM (Partial Evaporated Rapid Mixing) was applied, generating a dilute polydispersed spray in a swirled flow field. Experiments were performed using Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA) and a patternator to determine the droplet polydispersity, concentration maps, and velocity profiles in the flow. An important finding is the effect of large-scale coherent structures due mainly to the precessing of the vortex core (PVC) of the swirling air jet on the particle dispersion patterns. The experimental results then serve as reference data to assess the accuracy of the Eulerian–Lagrangian computations using a Large Eddy Simulation (LES), a Unsteady Reynolds-Average Navier–Stokes Simulation (URANS) and two simplified (steady-state) simulations. There, a simplified droplet injection model was used and the required boundary conditions of injected droplet sizes were obtained from measurements. Important transient effects of deterministic droplet separation observed during experiments, could be perfectly replicated with this injection model. It is convincingly shown, through extensive computations, that the resolution of instantaneous vortical structures is indeed crucial; hence the LES, or a reasonably-well resolved URANS are preferred over the steady-state solutions with additional, stochastic-type, turbulent dispersion models.     

新型微乳化柴油抛撒和云雾爆炸实验及其抑爆性能评估

为掌握新型微乳化柴油的抑爆性能和机理,开展了-10#柴油、普通微乳化柴油和新型微乳化柴油抛撒和云雾爆炸实验。采用灰色关联分析法,对柴油样品云雾爆炸火球的表面最高温度时的平均温度、高温(高于1 273.15 K)持续时间、火球最大截面积、火球辐射度等特征参数进行定量计算并评估其爆炸威力,又运用液体燃料抛撒和成像系统,研究柴油样品在激波及其高速气流作用下的抛撒雾化现象及其抑爆机理。结果表明:新型微乳化柴油的抛撒云雾径向扩展半径和云雾爆炸火球特征参数均明显小于-10#柴油、普通微乳化柴油,如在含水质量分数为5%的乳化柴油中分别添加质量分数为0.2%和0.4%的高分子聚合物防雾剂,形成的新型微乳化柴油的火球表面最高平均温度比-10#柴油分别低296.90和336.90 K,高温持续时间比-10#柴油分别少94和234 ms;火球最大截面积也分别只有-10#柴油的60.10%、53.53%;新型微乳化柴油的爆炸威力最小,抑爆性能最好,其次是普通微乳化柴油和-10#柴油;微乳化柴油的水分质量分数在15%以下时,多增加10%的水与添加0.2%防雾剂的抑爆效果相当;新型微乳化柴油抑爆性能较好的主要原因是柴油中添加防雾剂使其液滴黏弹性增大,在高速气流剪切作用不易破碎、雾化,液滴分散效果差。     

Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Cavitating Flows in Diesel Injection Systems

The present study is concerned with the phase change during rapid depressurization of fluids: the role of vapor bubbles nucleation and growth and the effect on the system fluid dynamics were modeled and experimental measurements were made. Following a control-volume approach, averaged equations governing the motion of a one-dimensional, homogeneous, no-slip two-phase flow were used considering both thermal equilibrium (equal temperature) and non-equilibrium (non-equal temperature) between the liquid and vapor phases. In the non-equilibrium model, the heat transfer from the liquid to the vapor and the corresponding mass transfer velocity were modeled. Model results were compared with experimental data for a loss-of-coolant accident in nuclear power plants: the comparison of numerical vs. experimental data showed the role of nucleation velocity during the earliest phase of rapid depressurization. The experimental study of two-phase flow in a diesel engine injection system has been carried out using a rotative pump which is operated by using a purpose-developed test-bench; pressure measurements inside the system pipes were performed using pressure transducers; moreover, an ultrasonic technique was employed to study phase change phenomena. Several measurements were performed comparing the results obtained by different experimental techniques with the model outputs.Sommario.presente studio riguarda il fenomeno della cavitazione durante la depressurizzazione di fluidi. E'stata considerata la velocità di formazione e nucleazione delle bolle di vapore e le equazioni di conservazione sono state integrate con solutori al 1°e 2°ordine di tipo ENO. Sono stati utilizzati dati sperimentali ottenuti durante incidenti per perdita di refrigerante in centrali nucleari; per quanto riguarda gli apparati di iniezione, gli autori hanno sviluppato due differenti tecniche sperimentali, basate rispettivamente sulla pressione e sulla riflessione degli ultrasuoni. Il confronto dei risultati numerici con quelli sperimentali è stato soddisfacente.     

等离子体激励器诱导射流的湍流特性研究

为了进一步掌握等离子体流动控制机理, 完善等离子体激励器数学模型, 提升等离子体激励器扰动能力, 采用粒子图像测速技术, 在静止空气下开展了介质阻挡放电等离子体激励器诱导射流特性研究. 实验时, 将非对称布局激励器布置在平板模型上, 随后将带有激励器的模型放置在有机玻璃箱内, 从而避免环境气流对测试结果的影响. 基于激励器诱导流场, 分析了激励电压对诱导射流特性的影响, 揭示了较高电压下诱导射流近壁区的拟序结构, 获得了卷起涡、二次涡等拟序结构的演化发展过程, 计算了卷起涡脱落频率, 阐述了卷起涡与启动涡的区别, 初步探索了卷起涡的耗散机制. 结果表明: (1)层流射流不能完全概括等离子体诱导射流特性, 激励电压是影响射流特性的重要参数. 当电压较低时, 诱导射流为层流射流; 当电压较高时, 诱导射流的雷诺数提高, 射流剪切层不稳定, 层流射流逐渐发展为湍流射流. (2)等离子体诱导湍流射流包含着卷起涡、二次涡等拟序结构; 在固定电压下, 这些涡结构存在恒定的卷起频率. (3)当激励电压较高时, 流动不稳定使得卷起涡发生了拉伸、变形, 引起了流场湍动能增大, 从而加速了卷起涡的耗散. 研究结果为全面认识激励器射流特性, 进一步挖掘激励器卷吸掺混能力, 提升激励器控制能力积累基础.      

Computational study of buoyancy effects in a laminar starting jet

Vortical structures formed in evolving jets are important in applications such as fuel injection in diesel engines and fuel leaks. When the jet fluid is different from the ambient fluid, the buoyancy can play an important role in determining the jet flow structure, and hence, the entrainment and fluid mixing processes. In the present study, a jet of helium injected in air is investigated, with emphasis placed on delineating the buoyancy effects on vector–scalar fields during the starting phase. We utilize a computational model, previously validated to predict the flow field of low-density gas jets. The model incorporates finite volume approach to solve the transport equation of helium mass fraction coupled with conservation equations of mixture mass and momentum. Computations were performed for a laminar jet to characterize the advancing jet front, and to capture the formation and propagation of vortex rings and the related pinch-off process. Results show significant effects of buoyancy on jet advancement, as well as on vorticity and helium concentration in the core of the vortex rings.