Measurements of the visible flame height of a swirl-stabilized kerosene jet diffusion flame

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the structure of a kerosene-based Jet A1 unconfined flame is conducted for different fuel flow rates and momentum flux ratios (MFRs). A pressure swirl atomizer is used to atomize the fuel jet. It is found that the flame height increases with increasing MFR for a fixed fuel flow rate. However, the flame height first decreased and then increased with increasing fuel flow rate for a fixed MFR. A correlation of the flame height with the power level and MFR is developed in a dimensionless form by using the response surface optimal design method. Variations in the lean blowout limit with the fuel flow rate are also studied. The lean blowout limit first increases to a peak value and then subsequently decreases, in agreement with the behavior of the flame height at the lean blowout limit. A blue region at the top of the flame is observed for high fuel flow rates. The flame characteristics obtained in the study are explained with the help of the spray characteristics of the kerosene fuel.