Effect of fuel temperature on the atomization characteristics for swirl injector

Swirl injectors are widely used in aero-engine combustors. Their atomization characteristics determine the ignition performance and combustion efficiency. However, little research has been conducted on their atomization characteristics at low temperatures. To explore the effect of fuel temperature on injection characteristics, this article describes an experiment in which the fuel was cooled and the spatial distribution of particle size at a distance from the nozzle outlet was measured using a phase Doppler particle analyzer. Experimental results show that: 1) the fuel-mass-flow rate was significantly larger at low temperatures than at room temperatures under the same pressure; 2) the fuel temperature has a certain effect on the injection pattern and Weber number of the nozzle within the working range; 3) the spatial distribution of the Sauter mean diameter tends to be small in the middle and large on the sides. The temperature directly changes the density, surface tension, viscosity, and other physical parameters of the fuel and indirectly affects the atomization characteristics of the nozzle. These measurement results are of great significance for research on the ignition process. © 2020 by Begell House, Inc.