Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An optical diagnostic technique based on ultraviolet absorption and schlieren for components stratification in a binary-component fuel–air mixture

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experiments in Fluids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The evaporation characteristics of multi-component fuel have significant effects on the fuel–air mixing process and subsequent processes, such as ignition, combustion, and harmful pollutants emission formation. When a multi-component fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber, spatial and temporal equivalence ratio stratification may happen due to the preferential evaporation of components with different volatilities. However, there is a lack of effective optical diagnostics of the spatial stratification in a multi-component fuel spray. In this study, new optical technique based on ultraviolet absorption and visible light schlieren (UAVS) is for the first time proposed to measure the stratification of vapor distributions stratification in a binary-component fuel spray. UAVS technique was applied to investigate the effects of mixing ratios in a binary-component fuel spray (p-xylene and n-hexane) and ambient temperature on the stratification of components with different volatilities. The results denote the UAVS technique as the effective method for the observation of stratification of a multi-component fuel spray. In this study, the stratification phenomenon was the most evident at the ratio of 1:1. At the same time, when the ambient temperature is much higher than the dew point temperature of mixture, the stratification rarely occurs, because of the rapid evaporation thus providing time not enough for preferential evaporation.

Graphic abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bardi M, Di Lella A, Bruneaux G (2019) A novel approach for quantitative measurements of preferential evaporation of fuel by means of two-tracer laser induced fluorescence. Fuel 239:521–533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biswas S, Qiao LA (2017) Comprehensive statistical investigation of schlieren image velocimetry (SIV) using high-velocity helium jet. Exp Fluids 58:18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen R, Nishida K, Shi B (2019) Quantitative investigation on the spray mixture formation for ethanol-gasoline blends via UV–Vis dual-wavelength laser absorption scattering (LAS) technique. Fuel 242:425–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davy M, Williams P, Han D, Steeper R (2003) Evaporation characteristics of the 3-pentanone–isooctane binary system. Exp Fluids 35(1):92–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fansler TD, Parrish SE (2015) Spray measurement technology: a review. Meas Sci Technol 26(1):012002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Itani LM, Bruneaux G, Di Lella A, Schulz C (2015) Two-tracer LIF imaging of preferential evaporation of multi-component gasoline fuel sprays under engine conditions. Proc Combust Inst 35:2915–2922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kranz P, Kaiser SA (2019) LIF-based imaging of preferential evaporation of a multi-component gasoline surrogate in a direct-injection engine. Proc Combust Inst 37(2):1365–1372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linne M (2013) Imaging in the optically dense regions of a spray: a review of developing techniques. Prog Energy Combust Sci 39(5):403–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma X, He X, Wang JX, Shuai S (2011) Co-evaporative multi-component fuel design for in-cylinder PLIF measurement and application in gasoline direct injection research. Appl Energy 88(8):2617–2627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makino A, Law CK (1988) On the controlling parameter in the gasification behavior of multicomponent droplets. Combust Flame 73(3):331–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcia LH (2007) NIST Standard Reference Database 4: NIST thermophysical properties ofhydrocarbon mixtures database (SUPERTRAPP). https://www.nist.gov/publications/nist-4-thermophysical-properties-hydrocarbon-mixtures-database-version-30

  • Meijer M, Somers B, Johnson J, Naber J, Lee SY, Malbec LMC, Bazyn T (2012) Engine combustion network (ECN): characterization and comparison of boundary conditions for different combustion vessels. At Sprays 22(9):777–806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otsu N (1979) A threshold selection method from gray-level histograms. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern 9(1):62–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pastor J, Payri R, Garcia-Oliver J, Nerva J (2012) Schlieren measurements of the ECN-spray A penetration under inert and reacting conditions, SAE Technical Paper 2012-01-0456.

  • Pickett LM, Kook S, Williams TC (2009) Visualization of diesel spray penetration, cool-flame, ignition, high-temperature combustion, and soot formation using high-speed imaging. SAE Tech Paper 2(1):439–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Qi W, Zhang Y (2018) A three-color absorption/scattering imaging technique for simultaneous measurements on distributions of temperature and fuel concentration in a spray. Exp Fluids 59:70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qi W, Zhang Y (2019) Quantitative measurement of binary-component fuel vapor distributions via laser absorption and scattering imaging. Appl Phys B 125(7):127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qi W, Zhou Y, Zhang Y (2020) Laser-based measurements and analyses on cycle-to-cycle variations of mixture formation in binary-component fuel sprays. Exp Fluids 61:87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Settles GS (2012) Schlieren and shadowgraph techniques: visualizing phenomena in transparent media. Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Settles GS, Hargather MJ (2017) A review of recent developments in schlieren and shadowgraph techniques. Meas Sci Technol 28(4):042001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens RE, Ma H, Stone CR, Walmsley HL, Cracknell R (2007) On planar laser-induced fluorescence with multi-component fuel and tracer design for quantitative determination of fuel concentration in internal combustion engines. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part D 221(6):713–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swindal JC, Dragonetti DP, Hahn RT, Furman PA, Acker WP (1995) In-cylinder charge homogeneity during cold-start studied with fluorescent tracers simulating different fuel distillation temperatures. SAE Tech Paper 1995-01-06

  • Westlye FR, Penney K, Ivarsson A, Pickett LM, Manin J, Skeen SA (2017) Diffuse back-illumination setup for high temporally resolved extinction imaging. Appl Opt 56:5028–5038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams B, Ewart P, Stone R, Ma H, Walmsley H, Cracknell R, Wallace S (2008) Multi-component quantitative PLIF: robust engineering measurements of cyclic variation in a firing spray-guided gasoline direct injection engine. SAE Tech Paper 2008-01-1073

  • Yoon JK, Myong KJ, Senda J, Fujimoto H (2009) Analysis of spatial vapor-phase distribution using the LIF method on multi-component fuel. J Mech Sci Technol 23(9):2565–2573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z (2000) A flexible new technique for camera calibration. IEEE Trans Pattern Anal 22:1330–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Nishida K (2007) Vapor distribution measurement of higher and lower volatile components in an evaporating fuel spray via laser absorption scattering (LAS) technique. Combust Sci Technol 179(5):863–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang R, Sick V (2007) Multi-component fuel imaging in a spray-guided spark-ignition direct-injection engine. SAE Tech Paper 2007-01-1826

  • Zhang Y, Zhang G, Xu M et al (2013) Droplet temperature measurement based on 2-color laser-induced exciplex fluorescence. Exp Fluids 54:1583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zigan L, Schmitz I, Fliigel A, Knorsch T, Wensing M, Leipertz A (2010) Effect of fuel properties on spray breakup and evaporation studied for a multi-hole direct injection spark ignition injector. Energy Fuels 24:4341–4350

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The research was sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 91741130) and Intergovernmental International Cooperation in Science and Technology Innovation (No. 2016YFE0127500).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Wenyuan Qi, Yifan Zhou & Yuyin Zhang

Authors
  1. Wenyuan Qi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yifan Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yuyin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuyin Zhang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Qi, W., Zhou, Y. & Zhang, Y. An optical diagnostic technique based on ultraviolet absorption and schlieren for components stratification in a binary-component fuel–air mixture. Exp Fluids 61, 230 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-020-03063-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-020-03063-w

Search

Navigation