Imaging of Drop and Vapour Clouds in an Evaporating Fuel Spray by ultraviolet and visible lasers

Abstract

AbstractA laser‐based method was developed for the simultaneous and quantitative imaging of drop and vapour clouds in an evaporating fuel spray. The method was based on extinction of two wavelengths, that is, ultraviolet and visible laser light through the fuel spray due to absorption by the vapour and scattering by the drops. α‐Methylnaphthalene was selected as an injection fuel, since it absorbs the ultraviolet laser light but does not absorb the visible laser light. Subtraction of the transmissivity of the visible laser light from that of the ultraviolet laser light made it possible to image the distribution of the vapour cloud in the evaporating fuel spray. The distribution of the drop cloud is imaged by the transmissivity of the visible laser light. The method was applied to the fuel spray injected from a nozzle of a direct injection diesel engine into high‐pressure and high‐temperature nitrogen gas in a bomb.