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Optical diagnostics and direct injection of liquid fuel sprays

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Abstract

The research described here addresses the problem of a paucity of high quality data on the full field structure of high pressure liquid fuel sprays for gasoline direct injection, GDI, engines. The paper describes the application of phase Doppler anemometry, PDA, and single-shot laser sheet Mie imaging to the study of GDI sprays and discusses the methodologies adopted for the experimental systems and the optimisation of the techniques. Experimental data is presented which defines the spray structure in terms of PDA vector and scalar fields and single-shot CCD digital images. The work demonstrates the essential complementary nature of the single point and planar optical diagnostics for spray studies.

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Correspondence to Hargrave G. K..

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Graham K. Hargrave: He received his PhD in 1984 from the Department of Fuel and Energy, University of Leeds. His research work included studies of the structure and heat transfer from turbulent, premixed flames and the application of optical diagnostics for flow field characterisation in combustion systems. After his PhD he worked in Research and Development for British Gas plc, where he specialised in the development and application of optical diagnostic techniques. His current position is lecturer in Thermofluids in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough University. His research interests include Particle Image velcimetry (PIV), Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) and High-Speed Imaging, with particular emphasis on their application to SI Engines, fuel injection systems, domestic and industrial burners, medical inhalers and the study of Flame propagation in explosions.

Graham Wigley: He is a Research Fellow in the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University, UK. He received the degrees of BSc, MSc, and PhD in Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering and Environmental Physics from the Universities of London, Manchester and Nottingham in 1968, 1970 and 1974 respectively. He joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Imperial College, London, in 1974 and was seconded to the Harwell Laboratory of the UK Atomic Energy Authority where, in 1978, he was appointed as Senior Scientific Officer to the Engineering Sciences Division. He moved to AVL in late 1981 and worked there until 1993 although there was a one year absence when, for 1985, he took the position of Special Systems Manager with Dantec Inc. in the USA. In September 1993, he founded Flow Measurement Consulting Service, FMCS, before joining Loughborough University in 1996. His work on Laser Diagnostics and Optical Instrumentation for Experimental Fluid Mechanics started in 1969 with flow studies related to nuclear reactor safety. Since 1974 his main studies have been concerned with energy production, combustion and two phase flow processes with the main emphasis though on the study of the fluid mechanics of internal combustion engines and their fuel injection systems.

Jeffrey Allen: He gained a BTech Honours degree in Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University in 1979. He joined Lotus Engineering, UK, 1983 and worked initially on the fuelling and combustion system for a Highly Pressure Charged F1 engine using Piezo-electric controlled Gasoline Direct Injection, GDI. In 1991 he joined the Powertrain Research Department to work on Variable Valve Actuation projects which resulted in the Lotus Active Valve Train and the Lotus Cam-Profile Switching tappet. He then spent 3 years managing a high volume production engine development programme before rejoining the Powertrain Research Department in 1996 as Manager. He is responsible for the implementation of GDI research, natural gas multi-point injection and two-stroke DI engine design and combustion development continued variable valve application and Hybrid optimisation application. Concurrently undertaking PhD at Loughborough University based on in-nozzle flow of GDI injectors.

Alastair Bacon: He has a BEng in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Automotive Diagnostics from the University of Nottingham. He is a chartered mechanical engineer and a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, London. His career began in the civil aerospace division of Rolls-Royce but moved on to undertake diagnostic and control systems research and development for the Ford Motor Company. He subsequently worked as an expert engineering witness before joining Lotus Engineering in 1995. Dr. Bacon is presently a Principal Development Engineer within Lotus Engineering, UK, and a member the Powertrain Research team working on the development of direct injection technology for the next generation of automotive gasoline engines.

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Hargrave, G.K., Wigley, G., Allen, J. et al. Optical diagnostics and direct injection of liquid fuel sprays. J Vis 2, 293–300 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03181445

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03181445

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