Visualization of Diesel and GTL Spray Combustion and Soot Formation in a Rapid Charging Combustion Vessel with Shadowgraph Method

Abstract

In this study, visual investigation of sprays and flames has been performed and soot formation in Diesel and GTL fuels has been compared in a specially designed Rapid Charging Combustion Vessel (RCCV) under various ambient gas O₂ concentrations and two injection pressures. It has been concluded that soot in the mixing-controlled combustion of Diesel and GTL fuels has similar tendency to be formed in the leading portion of the jet boundaries. Auto-ignition delay for GTL fuel is shorter than that for diesel fuel. The temporal and special variation of soot concentration in the diesel flame jets at various O₂ concentrations was correlated with the heat release rate. Soot concentration appears in the regions when diffusion combustion starts, and its concentration reaches maximum at the peak of heat release curve and then decreases due to oxidation. Visualization by shadowgraph method showed that soot decreases with lower O₂ concentration, and higher injection pressure.