Publications Details

Effects of pressure on the fundamental physics of fuel injection in diesel engines

Dahms, Rainer N.U.; Lacaze, Guilhem; Manin, Julien L.; Pickett, Lyle M.

This paper provides an analysis of high-pressure phenomena and its potential effects on the fundamental physics of fuel injection in Diesel engines. We focus on conditions when cylinder pressures exceed the thermodynamic critical pressure of the injected fuel and describe the major differences that occur in the jet dynamics compared to that described by classical spray theory. To facilitate the analysis, we present a detailed model framework based on the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) technique that is designed to account for key high-pressure phenomena. Using this framework, we perform a detailed analysis using the experimental data posted as part of the Engine Combustion Network (see www.sandia.gov/ECN): namely the "Baseline n-heptane" and "Spray-A (n-dodecane)" cases, which are designed to emulate conditions typically observed in Diesel engines. Calculations are performed by rigorously treating the experimental geometry, operating conditions and relevant thermo-physical gas-liquid mixture properties. Results are further processed using linear gradient theory, which facilitates calculations of detailed vapor-liquid interfacial structures, and compared with the high-speed imaging data. Analysis of the data reveals that fuel enters the chamber as a compressed liquid and is heated at supercritical pressure. Further analysis suggests that, at certain conditions studied here, the classical view of spray atomization as an appropriate model is questionable. Instead, nonideal real-fluid behavior must be taken into account using a multicomponent formulation that applies to arbitrary hydrocarbon mixtures at high-pressure supercritical conditions.