Atomization of Gel Fuels with Solid Particle Addition Utilizing an Air Atomizing Nozzle

Yunlei Xiao,Liya Huang,Zhixun Xia,Dali Yang,Likun Ma

doi:10.3390/en11112959

Abstract

Microscopic high-speed imaging is used to experimentally measure the velocity and size of droplets of gelled RP-1 based fuels with a solid particle additive. The gels are atomized using an air atomizing nozzle. The droplet diameter and velocity at a fixed position 20 cm from the nozzle on the centerline of the spray are measured at air mass flow rates of 1.5, 3 and 5 g/s. A parametric study is conducted to study the effect of gas mass flow rate, boron particle content, and species of the solid particle on the droplet characteristics. The results indicate that the droplet size decreases with the increasing of gas mass flow rate and boron particle content. Gel fuels with an aluminum particle are observed to produce smaller droplets at a low gas mass flow rate than that with a boron particle. The implication of these observations is that the atomization processes for gelled fuels with an additive of solid particles is controlled by the velocity difference between the gas and the droplets.

Highlights

The demand for high energy density and improved safety fuels have led to an ever increasing research of gel fuels [1], which are interesting candidates for these broadened requirements both in the range of rocket and ramjet engines [2]
Gel fuels are liquid fuels and oxidizers whose rheological properties have been altered by the addition of gelling agents, behaving as non-Newtonian fluids [3,4]
The unique viscoelastic properties of the gelled fuels enable them to be stored as solids, preventing leaks, but flow as liquids under certain pressure

Summary

Introduction

The demand for high energy density and improved safety fuels have led to an ever increasing research of gel fuels [1], which are interesting candidates for these broadened requirements both in the range of rocket and ramjet engines [2]. Gel fuels are liquid fuels and oxidizers whose rheological properties have been altered by the addition of gelling agents, behaving as non-Newtonian fluids [3,4]. The addition of gelling agents constructs a new microstructure, which can prevent aggregation and separation of the solid phase. Energetic solid particles such as aluminum, boron, magnesium, etc. To achieve high combustion efficiency, fine atomization is necessary [5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion