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A laser induced fluorescence technique for quantifying transient liquid fuel films utilising total internal reflection

Alonso, Mario; Kay, Peter J.; Bowen, Phil J.; Gilchrist, Robert; Sapsford, Steve

Authors

Mario Alonso

Peter Kay Peter2.Kay@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Director (Energy Technologies)

Phil J. Bowen

Robert Gilchrist

Steve Sapsford



Abstract

This paper describes the development of a laser induced fluorescence (LIF) technique to quantify the thickness and spatial distribution of transient liquid fuel films formed as a result of spray-wall interaction. The LIF technique relies on the principle that upon excitation by laser radiation the intensity of the fluorescent signal from a tracer like 3-pentanone is proportional to the film thickness. A binary solution of 10% (v/v) of 3-pentanone in iso-octane is used as a test fuel with a Nd:YAG laser as the excitation light source (utilising the fourth harmonic at wavelength 266 nm) and an intensified CCD camera is used to record the results as fluorescent images. The propagation of the excitation laser beam through the optical piston is carefully controlled by total internal reflection so that only the fuel film is excited and not the airborne droplets above the film, which had been previously shown to induce significant error. Other known sources of error are also carefully minimised. Calibrated temporally resolved benchmark results of a transient spray from a gasoline direct injector impinging on a flat quartz crown under atmospheric conditions are presented, with observations and discussion of the transient development of the fuel film. The calibrated measurements are consistent with previous studies of this event and demonstrate the applicability of the technique particularly for appraisal of CFD predictions. The potential utilisation of the technique under typical elevated ambient conditions is commented upon. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2010
Journal Experiments in Fluids
Print ISSN 0723-4864
Electronic ISSN 1432-1114
Publisher Springer (part of Springer Nature)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 48
Issue 1
Pages 133-142
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-009-0720-8
Keywords laser, fluorescence, liquid fuel films, internal reflection
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/982855
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00348-009-0720-8