Abstract
Because of thermal fluid-property dependence, atomization stability (or flow regime) can change even at fixed operating conditions when subject to temperature change. Particularly at low temperatures, fuel's high viscosity can prevent a pressure-swirl (or simplex) atomizer from sustaining a centrifugal-driven air core within the fuel injector. During disruption of the air core inside an injector, spray characteristics outside the nozzle reflect a highly unstable, nonlinear mode where air core length, Sauter mean diameter (SMD), cone angle, and discharge coefficient variability. To better understand injector performance, these characteristics of the pressure-swirl atomizer were experimentally investigated and data were correlated to Reynolds numbers (Re). Using a transparent acrylic nozzle, the air core length, SMD, cone angle, and discharge coefficient are observed as a function of Re. The critical Reynolds numbers that distinguish the transition from unstable mode to transitional mode and eventually to a stable mode are reported. The working fluids are diesel and a kerosene-based fuel, referred to as bunker-A.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1475-1483 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 Nov |
Keywords
- Air core
- Fuel injector performance
- Swirl spray
- Temperature effect
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes