Charged atomization characteristics and influencing factors analysis of aviation kerosene/ethanol blended fuel

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, an experimental apparatus for charged atomization was established to explore the charged atomization modes of blended aviation kerosene/ethanol fuels and the corresponding evolution of atomization modes for E0 (100% aviation kerosene), E10 (10% ethanol + 90% aviation kerosene), E30 (30% ethanol + 70% aviation kerosene), and E50 (50% ethanol + 50% aviation kerosene) blends with varying applied voltages. Furthermore, the influence of the ethanol blending ratio, electrode separation distance, fuel flow rate, nozzle diameter, and other influencing factors on the charged atomization characteristics was investigated. Experimental results within the 0 to 10 kV voltage range revealed that as the voltage increased, the E0 fuel transitioned from droplet formation to spindle shape without exhibiting atomization, while the E10, E30, and E50 fuels displayed a sequential progression of atomization modes including droplet, micro-droplet, pulsed-jet, cone-jet, deflected-jet, and multi-jet configurations. As the ethanol blending ratio increases, the critical voltage required for the transition to atomization mode decreases, while the atomization cone angle gradually increases. The average atomization cone angles are 38.98°, 49.97°, and 66.83° for E10, E30, and E50, respectively. When the nozzle diameter is reduced from 1.05 mm to 0.3 mm, the charged atomization cone angle does not change significantly. With increasing fuel flow, the critical voltage for the atomization mode transition increases progressively, and the charged atomization cone angle also increases. The average atomization cone angles are 65.80°, 88.45°, 93.04°, 103.63°, and 110.97°, respectively.