Fuel Spray Related Projects
Characterization of Biomass-Based Fuels and Fuel Blends for Low-Emissions, Diesel Engines
We utilize a direct-injection constant pressure flow rig (CPFR, shown below) equipped with optical access to study the combustion phenomena and behavior of different fuels. We utilize 3 different diagnostics to comprehensive study fuel injection mixing, ignition, and combustion behavior (layout shown below). This research focuses on the characterization and creation of models for predicting important auto-ignition and combustion properties. Using biomass-based, low-greenhouse gas fuels and blends at diesel engine-relevant conditions, we strive to determine a correlation between combustion behavior, fuel chemistry, and emissions. Because diesel engines have the capability to achieve incredibly high efficiencies—albeit at the cost of expensive after-treatment systems to meet emissions regulations—our research aims to reduce the the need for diesel after-treatment by enabling low combustion-out emissions for heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., commercial trucks and freights) that are not readily able to transition to electric power.
This high-speed video shows the fuel injection, ignition and combustion processes inside the CPFR. The fuel is injected for approximately 2 milliseconds, ignites, and then propagates through the chamber.
Composite image of simultaneous diagnostics show initial mixing, ignition, and soot formation processes. This type of image contains significant quantitative information upon which analysis can be performed.
We use three different types of optical diagnostics to analyze the fuel as it is injected, ignites, and subsequently combusts in the CPFR. Rainbow schlieren deflectometry (RSD) quantifies how the fuel mixes with the air; 2-color pyrometry (2CP) characterizes soot production; OH* chemiluminescence (OH*) characterizes flame structure.
Selected Publications
- Reggeti, S. A., Parker, A., Wanstall, C. T., Agrawal, A. K., & Bittle, J. A. (2021). Comparing Global Spray Combustion Characteristics and Local Shot-to-Shot Variations in a Reacting n-Heptane Spray. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 143(9), 091018.
Click here for paper access https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4050868 - Parker, A., Wanstall, C. L., Reggeti, S. A., Bittle, J. A., & Agrawal, A. K. (2021). Simultaneous rainbow schlieren deflectometry and OH* chemiluminescence imaging of a diesel spray flame in constant pressure flow rig. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38(4), 5557-5565.
Click here for paper access https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2020.05.045. - Reggeti, S. A., Agrawal, A. K., & Bittle, J. A. (2019) Two-color pyrometry system to eliminate optical errors for spatially resolved measurements in flames. Applied Optics, 58, 8905-8913
Click here for paper access https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.58.008905