Detailed spray analysis of airblast atomization of various fuels in a reacting environment

Abstract

Understanding spray evolution in a reacting environment is critical to designing advanced, clean combustion systems. The processes in the upstream region determine flame shape, stability, ignition characteristics, pollutant emission, and combustion efficiency. The developed spray is never achieved in combustion since the early regions feature primary and secondary atomization, while droplets evaporate as they approach the flame. Consequently, there is no thermodynamic equilibrium before the flame front. The principal goal of this paper is to provide detailed information to model developers on various sprays measured by a Phase Doppler Anemometer; the processed measurement data is available as supplementary material, while the raw data will be provided upon request. Four different fuels were tested: diesel fuel, aviation kerosene type JP-8, biodiesel, and a 50 % biodiesel-diesel blend by volume. The plain -jet airblast atomizer was tested at four atomization gauge pressures (0.3, 0.45, 0.6, 0.75 barg). Therefore, sixteen different sprays were measured along one spray diameter at each of four downstream distances of 15, 25, 35, and 45 mm, measured from the nozzle tip. The paper details the droplet size distribution, droplet axial velocity, fluctuations, and correlation between size and velocity to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of liquid fuel sprays. This latter measure helps identify the overshooting phenomenon, i.e., localizing the regions where the large droplets move faster than the gas phase.Understanding spray evolution in a reacting environment is critical to designing advanced, clean combustion systems. The processes in the upstream region determine flame shape, stability, ignition characteristics, pollutant emission, and combustion efficiency. The developed spray is never achieved in combustion since the early regions feature primary and secondary atomization, while droplets evaporate as they approach the flame. Consequently, there is no thermodynamic equilibrium before the flame front. The principal goal of this paper is to provide detailed information to model developers on various sprays measured by a Phase Doppler Anemometer; the processed measurement data is available as supplementary material, while the raw data will be provided upon request. Four different fuels were tested: diesel fuel, aviation kerosene type JP-8, biodiesel, and a 50 % biodiesel-diesel blend by volume. The plain -jet airblast atomizer was tested at four atomization gauge pressures (0.3, 0.45, 0.6, 0.75 barg). Therefore, sixteen different sprays were measured along one spray diameter at each of four downstream distances of 15, 25, 35, and 45 mm, measured from the nozzle tip. The paper details the droplet size distribution, droplet axial velocity, fluctuations, and correlation between size and velocity to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of liquid fuel sprays. This latter measure helps identify the overshooting phenomenon, i.e., localizing the regions where the large droplets move faster than the gas phase.