Experimental Investigations of Superheated and Supercritical Injections of Liquid Fuels

Abstract Single- and multicomponent liquid fuels are injected in a jet-in-coflow configuration at elevated temperatures pressures with both custom plain orifice nozzle commercial pressure-swirl atomizer. The transitions spray morphology from mechanical breakup to superheated/supercritical regimes characterized qualitatively by laser shadowgraphy evaluated based on quantitative measures of superheat. Although fuel preheating exhibits no discernible effect the regime, dramatic jet-to-plume transition as well build-up vapor chamber is observed increasing level difference between two different atomizers terms behavior diminishes high levels superheat, suggesting predominant role thermal regimes. For mutlicomponent such Jet A-1, into fully flashing occurs lower than expected values, which calculated treating A-1 single-component fuel. Additionally, pressure drop shown sensitive indicator for departure onset spray. Comparisons measured estimated also reveal differences susceptibility effects atomizers.