Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Technique to Match the Refractive Index of Different Diesel Fuels with the Refractive Index of Transparent Materials to Improve the Experimental Visualization

  • Published:
Experimental Techniques Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this article a technique to match the refractive index (n) of different diesel fuels with the refractive index of transparent materials is presented with the aim to improve the flow visualization inside transparent nozzles. For this purpose, a technique based on the variation of the angle of a laser beam passing through the tested fluid and the transparent material was used. The validation of this technique was performed by measuring the refractive index of known fluids (n-decane and n-hexadecane) and comparing them with literature ones. After this, the refractive index was determined for three different diesel fuels: commercial diesel, a rapeseed methyl ester biodiesel (RME) and cold start diesel. The uncertainty of the measurements represents a relative error respect to the mean of only 0.1%. Next, to equal the refractive index of each fuel with the refractive index of the transparent material (fused silica nozzle), a doping process was performed with 1-methylnaphthalene and n-hexadecane at different concentrations. The main advantage of applying this technique in visualization measurements is to obtain additionally the fuel refractive index and match this with the transparent nozzle under real conditions without requiring additional equipment such as refractometers.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Payri, R., Bermúdez, V., Salvador, F.J., and Plazas, A.H., “Study of the influence of nozzle seat type on injection rate and spray behavior,” Proceedings of the IMechE, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering 219: 677–689 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Afzal, H., Arcoumanis, C., Gavaises, M., Kampanis, N., “Internal Flow in Diesel Injector Nozzles: Modelling and Experiments,” Proceedings of IMechE Seminar on Fuel Injection Systems, London, Paper S492/S2/99, 1999.

  3. Payri, R., Salvador, F.J., Gimeno, J., de la Morena, J., “Macroscopic Behavior of Diesel Sprays in the Near-Nozzle Field,” Presented at SAE World Congress, 2008-01-0929, 2008.

  4. Oda, T.., Goda, Y., Kanaike, S., Aoki, K., Ohsawa, K., “Experimental Study about internal Cavitating Flow and Primary Atomization of a Large-Scaled VCO Diesel Injector with Eccentric Needle,” 11th Triennial International Annual Conference on Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems, p. 132 (2009).

  5. Chaves H., Knapp M., Kubitzek A., Obermeier F., “Experimental Study of Cavitation in the Nozzle Hole of Diesel Injectors Using Transparent Nozzles,” SAE Paper No. 950290, 1995.

  6. Chaves H., Kirmse C., Obermeier F. “The Influence of Nozzle Inlet Curvature on Unsteady Cavitation in Transparent Diesel Injection Nozzles,” 1st International Colloquium on Microhydrodynamics, Paris, 2000.

  7. Arcoumanis, C., Badami, M., Flora, H., Gavaises M., “Cavitation in Real-Size Multi-Hole Diesel Injector Nozzles,” SAE Paper 2000-01-1249 (2000).

  8. Soteriou, C., Andrews R.J., Smith M., “Direct Injection Diesel Sprays and the Effect of Cavitation and Hydraulic Flip on Atomization,” SAE Paper 950080 (1995).

  9. Walther J., Schaller J.K., Wirth R., Tropea C., “Investigation of internal flow in transparent diesel injection nozzles using fluorescent particle image velocimetry (FPIV),” Proceedings of ICLASS 2000, 2000.

  10. Sou, A., Tomiyama, A., Hosokawa, S., Nigorikawa, S., and Maeda, T., “Cavitation in a Two-Dimensional Nozzle and Liquid Jet Atomization,” JSME International Journal Series B 49: 1253–1259 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ganippa L.C., Bark G., Andersson S., Chomiak J., “Comparison of cavitation phenomena in transparent scale-up single-hole diesel nozzles,” Proc. CAV2001 A9.005, 2001.

  12. Wollenhaupt, M., et al., Tr¨ ager, F., (ed), Springer Handbook of Lasers and Optics, Springer, New York (2007).

  13. Ciddor, P.E., “Refractive index of air: new equations for the visible and near infrared,” Applied Optics 35: 1566–1573 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Malitson, H., “Refractive Index of Fused Silica,” Journal of the Optical Society of America 55: 1205 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bass, M., DeCusatis, C., and Enoch, J., et al., Handbook of Optics, Volume 4, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kuiper, S., Hendriks, B.H.W., Renders, C.A., Patent Aplication Publication, Publication No. 2008/0204890 A1, United States, 2008.

  17. Deanesly, R.M., and Carleton, L.T., “Physical Constants of the Normal Paraffin Hydrocarbons,” The Journal of Physical Chemistry 45: 1104–1123 (1941).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ghosh, G., Handbook of Thermo-Optic Coefficients of Optical Materials with Applications, Academic, San Diego, CA (1997).

  19. Bach, H., and Neuroth, N., The Properties of Optical Glass, Springer, New York (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Forziati, A.F., “Refractive index as a function of wavelength for sixty API-NBS hydrocarbons,” Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards 44: 373–385 (1950).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CMT-Motores Térmicos, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain

    R. Payri, F. J. Salvador, J. Gimeno & O. Venegas

Authors
  1. R. Payri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. J. Salvador
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Gimeno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. O. Venegas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Gimeno.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Payri, R., Salvador, F.J., Gimeno, J. et al. A Technique to Match the Refractive Index of Different Diesel Fuels with the Refractive Index of Transparent Materials to Improve the Experimental Visualization. Exp Tech 40, 261–269 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40799-016-0031-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40799-016-0031-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation