Experimental investigation of minimum ignition energy of monodisperse fuel sprays

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6311212

Chan, K K

Four independent experiments using tetralin-air mixtures with overall equivalence ratios of 0.39, 0.55, 0.8 and 1.0 were conducted. The range of the droplet diameter varied from 8 to 32 ..mu..m and was produced by a LaMer aerosol generator. The results were interpreted in terms of a transition from a heterogeneous to a homogeneous combustion behavior. The latter involves complete vaporization of the liquid phase before burning. The principal components of the experimental apparatus consisted of (a) an aerosol generator for the production of monodisperse tetralin sprays and (b) an ignition unit and spark assembly for ignition energy measurement. Spark ignition was accomplished by a unit capable of supplying sparks of adjustable energy and duration. Droplet size was measured using the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern produced by a He-Ne laser passing through the aerosol and collected by a converging lens. Air to fuel ratio was measured by a collection method. As droplet size was decreased, results showed that the minimum amount of energy required for ignition also decreased.

• OSTI ID: 6311212
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
TETRALIN
IGNITION
PHOTOLYSIS
AEROSOL GENERATORS
AIR
FUEL-AIR RATIO
HELIUM-NEON LASERS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENGINES
FLUIDS
GAS LASERS
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROCARBONS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LASERS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
400800* - Combustion
Pyrolysis
& High-Temperature Chemistry