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[EN] Post-injection fuel dribble is known to lead to incomplete atomisation and combustion due to the release of slow-moving, and often surface-bound, liquid fuel after the end of injection. This can have a negative effect on engine emissions, performance and injector durability. To better quantify this phenomenon, we developed an image-processing approach to measure the volume of ligaments produced during the end of injection. We applied our processing approach to an Engine Combustion Network 'Spray B' 3-hole injector, using datasets from 220 injections generated by different research groups, to decouple the effect of gas temperature and pressure on the fuel dribble process. High-speed X-ray phase-contrast images obtained at room temperature conditions (297 K) at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, together with diffused back-illumination images captured at a wide range of temperature conditions (293-900 K) by CMT Motores Termicos were analysed and compared quantitatively. We found a good agreement between image sets obtained by Argonne National Laboratory and CMT Motores Termicos using different imaging techniques. The maximum dribble volume within the field of view of the imaging system and the mean rate of fuel dribble were considered as characteristic parameters of the fuel dribble process. Analysis showed that the absolute mean dribble rate increases with temperature when injection pressure is higher than 1000 bar and slightly decreases at high injection pressures (>500 bar) when temperature is close to 293 K. Larger maximum volumes of the fuel dribble were observed at lower gas temperatures (similar to 473 K) and low gas pressures (<30 bar), with a slight dependence on injection pressure.

[EN] Post-injection fuel dribble is known to lead to incomplete atomisation and combustion due to the release of slow-moving, and often surface-bound, liquid fuel after the end of injection. This can have a negative effect on engine emissions, performance and injector durability. To better quantify this phenomenon, we developed an image-processing approach to measure the volume of ligaments produced during the end of injection. We applied our processing approach to an Engine Combustion Network 'Spray B' 3-hole injector, using datasets from 220 injections generated by different research groups, to decouple the effect of gas temperature and pressure on the fuel dribble process. High-speed X-ray phase-contrast images obtained at room temperature conditions (297 K) at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, together with diffused back-illumination images captured at a wide range of temperature conditions (293-900 K) by CMT Motores Termicos were analysed and compared quantitatively. We found a good agreement between image sets obtained by Argonne National Laboratory and CMT Motores Termicos using different imaging techniques. The maximum dribble volume within the field of view of the imaging system and the mean rate of fuel dribble were considered as characteristic parameters of the fuel dribble process. Analysis showed that the absolute mean dribble rate increases with temperature when injection pressure is higher than 1000 bar and slightly decreases at high injection pressures (>500 bar) when temperature is close to 293 K. Larger maximum volumes of the fuel dribble were observed at lower gas temperatures (similar to 473 K) and low gas pressures (<30 bar), with a slight dependence on injection pressure.

[EN] In order to improve understanding of the primary atomization process for diesel-like sprays, a collaborative experimental and computational study was focused on the near-nozzle spray structure for the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray D single-hole injector. These results were presented at the 5th Workshop of the ECN in Detroit, Michigan. Application of x-ray diagnostics to the Spray D standard cold condition enabled quantification of distributions of mass, phase interfacial area, and droplet size in the near-nozzle region from 0.1 to 14 mm from the nozzle exit. Using these data, several modeling frameworks, from Lagrangian-Eulerian to Eulerian-Eulerian and from Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) to Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS), were assessed in their ability to capture and explain experimentally observed spray details. Due to its computational efficiency, the Lagrangian-Eulerian approach was able to provide spray predictions across a broad range of conditions. In general, this "engineering-level" simulation was able to reproduce the details of the droplet size distribution throughout the spray after calibration of the spray breakup model constants against the experimental data. Complementary to this approach, higher-fidelity modeling techniques were able to provide detailed insight into the experimental trends. For example, interface-capturing multiphase simulations were able to capture the experimentally observed bimodal behavior in the transverse interfacial area distributions in the near-nozzle region. Further analysis of the spray predictions suggests that peaks in the interfacial area distribution may coincide with regions of finely atomized droplets, whereas local minima may coincide with regions of continuous liquid structures. The results from this study highlight the potential of x-ray diagnostics to reveal salient details of the near-nozzle spray structure and to guide improvements to existing primary atomization modeling approaches.

[EN] In order to improve understanding of the primary atomization process for diesel-like sprays, a collaborative experimental and computational study was focused on the near-nozzle spray structure for the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray D single-hole injector. These results were presented at the 5th Workshop of the ECN in Detroit, Michigan. Application of x-ray diagnostics to the Spray D standard cold condition enabled quantification of distributions of mass, phase interfacial area, and droplet size in the near-nozzle region from 0.1 to 14 mm from the nozzle exit. Using these data, several modeling frameworks, from Lagrangian-Eulerian to Eulerian-Eulerian and from Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) to Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS), were assessed in their ability to capture and explain experimentally observed spray details. Due to its computational efficiency, the Lagrangian-Eulerian approach was able to provide spray predictions across a broad range of conditions. In general, this "engineering-level" simulation was able to reproduce the details of the droplet size distribution throughout the spray after calibration of the spray breakup model constants against the experimental data. Complementary to this approach, higher-fidelity modeling techniques were able to provide detailed insight into the experimental trends. For example, interface-capturing multiphase simulations were able to capture the experimentally observed bimodal behavior in the transverse interfacial area distributions in the near-nozzle region. Further analysis of the spray predictions suggests that peaks in the interfacial area distribution may coincide with regions of finely atomized droplets, whereas local minima may coincide with regions of continuous liquid structures. The results from this study highlight the potential of x-ray diagnostics to reveal salient details of the near-nozzle spray structure and to guide improvements to existing primary atomization modeling approaches.

[EN] Gasoline direct injection (GDI) sprays are complex multiphase flows. When compared to multi-hole diesel sprays, the plumes are closely spaced, and the sprays are more likely to interact. The effects of multi-jet interaction on entrainment and spray targeting can be influenced by small variations in the mass fluxes from the holes, which in turn depend on transients in the needle movement and small-scale details of the internal geometry. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of a multi-institutional effort to experimentally characterize the internal geometry and near-nozzle flow of the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray G gasoline injector. In order to develop a complete pictitre of the near-nozzle flow, a standardized setup was shared between facilities. A wide range of techniques were employed, including both X-ray and visible-light diagnostics. The novel aspects of this work include both new experimental measurements, and a comparison of the results across different techniques and facilities. The breadth and depth of the data reveal phenomena which were not apparent from analysis of the individual data sets. We show that plume-to-plume variations in the mass fluxes from the holes can cause large-scale asymmetries in the entrainment field and spray structure. Both internal flow transients and small-scale geometric features can have an effect on the external flow. The sharp turning angle of the flow into the holes also causes an inward vectoring of the plumes relative to the hole drill angle, which increases with time due to entrainment of gas into a low-pressure region between the plumes. These factors increase the likelihood of spray collapse with longer injection durations.

[EN] Measurements of droplet size in optically-thick, non-evaporating, shear-driven sprays have been made using ultra-small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS). The sprays are produced by orifice-type nozzles coupled to diesel injectors, with measurements conducted from 1 - 24 mm from the orifice, spanning from the optically-dense near-nozzle region to more dilute regions where optical diagnostics are feasible. The influence of nozzle diameter, liquid injection pressure, and ambient density were examined. The USAXS measurements reveal few if any nanoscale droplets, in conflict with a popular computational model of diesel spray breakup. The average droplet diameter rapidly decreases with downstream distance from the nozzle until a plateau value is reached, after which only small changes are seen in droplet diameter. This plateau droplet size is consistent with the droplets being small enough to be stable with respect to further breakup. Liquid injection pressure and nozzle diameter have the biggest impact on droplet size, while ambient density has a smaller effect. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[EN] Gasoline direct injection (GDI) sprays are complex multiphase flows. When compared to multi-hole diesel sprays, the plumes are closely spaced, and the sprays are more likely to interact. The effects of multi-jet interaction on entrainment and spray targeting can be influenced by small variations in the mass fluxes from the holes, which in turn depend on transients in the needle movement and small-scale details of the internal geometry. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of a multi-institutional effort to experimentally characterize the internal geometry and near-nozzle flow of the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray G gasoline injector. In order to develop a complete pictitre of the near-nozzle flow, a standardized setup was shared between facilities. A wide range of techniques were employed, including both X-ray and visible-light diagnostics. The novel aspects of this work include both new experimental measurements, and a comparison of the results across different techniques and facilities. The breadth and depth of the data reveal phenomena which were not apparent from analysis of the individual data sets. We show that plume-to-plume variations in the mass fluxes from the holes can cause large-scale asymmetries in the entrainment field and spray structure. Both internal flow transients and small-scale geometric features can have an effect on the external flow. The sharp turning angle of the flow into the holes also causes an inward vectoring of the plumes relative to the hole drill angle, which increases with time due to entrainment of gas into a low-pressure region between the plumes. These factors increase the likelihood of spray collapse with longer injection durations.

[EN] The dense spray region in the near-field of diesel fuel injection remains an enigma. This region is difficult to interrogate with light in the visible range and difficult to model due to the rapid interaction between liquid and gas. In particular, modeling strategies that rely on Lagrangian particle tracking of droplets have struggled in this area. To better represent the strong interaction between phases, Eulerian modeling has proven particularly useful. Models built on the concept of surface area density are advantageous where primary and secondary atomization have not yet produced droplets, but rather form more complicated liquid structures. Surface area density, a more general concept than Lagrangian droplets, naturally represents liquid structures, no matter how complex. These surface area density models, however, have not been directly experimentally validated in the past due to the inability of optical methods to elucidate such a quantity. Optical diagnostics traditionally measure near-spherical droplet size far downstream, where the spray is optically thin. Using ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering (USAXS) measurements to measure the surface area and x-ray radiography to measure the density, we have been able to test one of the more speculative parts of Eulerian spray modeling. The modeling and experimental results have been combined to provide insight into near-field spray dynamics.

[EN] Making quantitative measurements of the vapor distribution in a cavitating nozzle is difficult, owing to the strong scattering of visible light at gas-liquid boundaries and wall boundaries, and the small lengths and time scales involved. The transparent models required for optical experiments are also limited in terms of maximum pressure and operating life. Over the past few years, x-ray radiography experiments at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source have demonstrated the ability to perform quantitative measurements of the line of sight projected vapor fraction in submerged, cavitating plastic nozzles. In this paper, we present the results of new radiography experiments performed on a submerged beryllium nozzle which is 520m in diameter, with a length/diameter ratio of 6. Beryllium is a light, hard metal that is very transparent to x-rays due to its low atomic number. We present quantitative measurements of cavitation vapor distribution conducted over a range of non-dimensional cavitation and Reynolds numbers, up to values typical of gasoline and diesel fuel injectors. A novel aspect of this work is the ability to quantitatively measure the area contraction along the nozzle with high spatial resolution. Analysis of the vapor distribution, area contraction and discharge coefficients are made between the beryllium nozzle and plastic nozzles of the same nominal geometry. When gas is dissolved in the fuel, the vapor distribution can be quite different from that found in plastic nozzles of the same dimensions, although the discharge coefficients are unaffected. In the beryllium nozzle, there were substantially fewer machining defects to act as nucleation sites for the precipitation of bubbles from dissolved gases in the fuel, and as such the effect on the vapor distribution was greatly reduced.

[EN] Measurements of droplet size in optically-thick, non-evaporating, shear-driven sprays have been made using ultra-small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS). The sprays are produced by orifice-type nozzles coupled to diesel injectors, with measurements conducted from 1 - 24 mm from the orifice, spanning from the optically-dense near-nozzle region to more dilute regions where optical diagnostics are feasible. The influence of nozzle diameter, liquid injection pressure, and ambient density were examined. The USAXS measurements reveal few if any nanoscale droplets, in conflict with a popular computational model of diesel spray breakup. The average droplet diameter rapidly decreases with downstream distance from the nozzle until a plateau value is reached, after which only small changes are seen in droplet diameter. This plateau droplet size is consistent with the droplets being small enough to be stable with respect to further breakup. Liquid injection pressure and nozzle diameter have the biggest impact on droplet size, while ambient density has a smaller effect. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[EN] Making quantitative measurements of the vapor distribution in a cavitating nozzle is difficult, owing to the strong scattering of visible light at gas-liquid boundaries and wall boundaries, and the small lengths and time scales involved. The transparent models required for optical experiments are also limited in terms of maximum pressure and operating life. Over the past few years, x-ray radiography experiments at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source have demonstrated the ability to perform quantitative measurements of the line of sight projected vapor fraction in submerged, cavitating plastic nozzles. In this paper, we present the results of new radiography experiments performed on a submerged beryllium nozzle which is 520m in diameter, with a length/diameter ratio of 6. Beryllium is a light, hard metal that is very transparent to x-rays due to its low atomic number. We present quantitative measurements of cavitation vapor distribution conducted over a range of non-dimensional cavitation and Reynolds numbers, up to values typical of gasoline and diesel fuel injectors. A novel aspect of this work is the ability to quantitatively measure the area contraction along the nozzle with high spatial resolution. Analysis of the vapor distribution, area contraction and discharge coefficients are made between the beryllium nozzle and plastic nozzles of the same nominal geometry. When gas is dissolved in the fuel, the vapor distribution can be quite different from that found in plastic nozzles of the same dimensions, although the discharge coefficients are unaffected. In the beryllium nozzle, there were substantially fewer machining defects to act as nucleation sites for the precipitation of bubbles from dissolved gases in the fuel, and as such the effect on the vapor distribution was greatly reduced.

[EN] The dense spray region in the near-field of diesel fuel injection remains an enigma. This region is difficult to interrogate with light in the visible range and difficult to model due to the rapid interaction between liquid and gas. In particular, modeling strategies that rely on Lagrangian particle tracking of droplets have struggled in this area. To better represent the strong interaction between phases, Eulerian modeling has proven particularly useful. Models built on the concept of surface area density are advantageous where primary and secondary atomization have not yet produced droplets, but rather form more complicated liquid structures. Surface area density, a more general concept than Lagrangian droplets, naturally represents liquid structures, no matter how complex. These surface area density models, however, have not been directly experimentally validated in the past due to the inability of optical methods to elucidate such a quantity. Optical diagnostics traditionally measure near-spherical droplet size far downstream, where the spray is optically thin. Using ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering (USAXS) measurements to measure the surface area and x-ray radiography to measure the density, we have been able to test one of the more speculative parts of Eulerian spray modeling. The modeling and experimental results have been combined to provide insight into near-field spray dynamics.

[EN] Gasoline direct injection (GDI) nozzles are manufactured to meet geometric specifications with length scales on the order of a few hundred microns. The machining tolerances of these nominal dimensions are not always known due to the difficulty in accurately measuring such small length scales in a nonintrusive fashion. To gain insight into the variability of the machined dimensions as well as any effects that this variability may have on the fuel spray behavior, a series of measurements of the internal geometry and fuel mass distribution were performed on a set of eight nominally duplicate GDI “Spray G” nozzles provided by the Engine Combustion Network. The key dimensions of each of the eight nozzle holes were measured with micron resolution using full spectrum x-ray tomographic imaging at the 7-BM beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Fuel density distributions at 2 mm downstream of the nozzle tips were obtained by performing x-ray radiography measurements for many lines of sight. The density measurements reveal nozzle-to-nozzle as well as hole-to-hole density variations. The combination of high-resolution geometry and fuel distribution datasets allows spray phenomena to be linked to specific geometric characteristics of the nozzle, such as variability in the hole lengths and counterbore diameters, and the hole inlet corner radii. This analysis provides important insight into which geometrical characteristics of the nozzles may have the greatest importance in the development of the injected sprays, and to what degree these geometric variations might account for the total spray variability. The goal of this work is then to further the understanding of the relationship between internal nozzle geometry and fuel injection, provide input to improve computational models, and ultimately aid in optimizing injector design for higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions engines.

[EN] Post-injection dribble is known to lead to incomplete atomisation and combustion due to the release of slow moving, and often surface-bound, liquid fuel after the end of the injection event. This can have a negative effect on engine emissions, performance, and injector durability. To better quantify this phenomenon we present a new image processing approach to quantify the volume and surface area of ligaments produced during the end of injection, for an ECN ‘Spray B’ 3-hole injector. Circular approximation for cross-sections was used to estimate three-dimensional parameters of droplets and ligaments. The image processing consisted in three stages: edge detection, morphological reconstruction, and 3D reconstruction. For the last stage of 3D reconstruction, smooth surfaces were obtained by computation of the alpha shape which represents a bounding volume enveloping a set of 3D points. The object model was verified by calculation of surface area and volume from 2D images of figures with well-known shapes. We show that the object model fits non-spherical droplets and pseudo-cylindrical ligaments reasonably well. We applied our processing approach to datasets generated by different research groups to decouple the effect of gas temperature and pressure on the fuel dribble process. High-speed X-ray phase-contrast images obtained at room temperature conditions (297 K) at the 7-ID beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, together with diffused back-illumination (DBI) images captured at a wide range of temperature conditions (293-900 K) by CMT Motores Térmicos, were analysed and compared quantitatively.

[EN] Gasoline direct injection (GDI) nozzles are manufactured to meet geometric specifications with length scales on the order of a few hundred microns. The machining tolerances of these nominal dimensions are not always known due to the difficulty in accurately measuring such small length scales in a nonintrusive fashion. To gain insight into the variability of the machined dimensions as well as any effects that this variability may have on the fuel spray behavior, a series of measurements of the internal geometry and fuel mass distribution were performed on a set of eight nominally duplicate GDI “Spray G” nozzles provided by the Engine Combustion Network. The key dimensions of each of the eight nozzle holes were measured with micron resolution using full spectrum x-ray tomographic imaging at the 7-BM beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Fuel density distributions at 2 mm downstream of the nozzle tips were obtained by performing x-ray radiography measurements for many lines of sight. The density measurements reveal nozzle-to-nozzle as well as hole-to-hole density variations. The combination of high-resolution geometry and fuel distribution datasets allows spray phenomena to be linked to specific geometric characteristics of the nozzle, such as variability in the hole lengths and counterbore diameters, and the hole inlet corner radii. This analysis provides important insight into which geometrical characteristics of the nozzles may have the greatest importance in the development of the injected sprays, and to what degree these geometric variations might account for the total spray variability. The goal of this work is then to further the understanding of the relationship between internal nozzle geometry and fuel injection, provide input to improve computational models, and ultimately aid in optimizing injector design for higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions engines.

[EN] Post-injection dribble is known to lead to incomplete atomisation and combustion due to the release of slow moving, and often surface-bound, liquid fuel after the end of the injection event. This can have a negative effect on engine emissions, performance, and injector durability. To better quantify this phenomenon we present a new image processing approach to quantify the volume and surface area of ligaments produced during the end of injection, for an ECN ‘Spray B’ 3-hole injector. Circular approximation for cross-sections was used to estimate three-dimensional parameters of droplets and ligaments. The image processing consisted in three stages: edge detection, morphological reconstruction, and 3D reconstruction. For the last stage of 3D reconstruction, smooth surfaces were obtained by computation of the alpha shape which represents a bounding volume enveloping a set of 3D points. The object model was verified by calculation of surface area and volume from 2D images of figures with well-known shapes. We show that the object model fits non-spherical droplets and pseudo-cylindrical ligaments reasonably well. We applied our processing approach to datasets generated by different research groups to decouple the effect of gas temperature and pressure on the fuel dribble process. High-speed X-ray phase-contrast images obtained at room temperature conditions (297 K) at the 7-ID beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, together with diffused back-illumination (DBI) images captured at a wide range of temperature conditions (293-900 K) by CMT Motores Térmicos, were analysed and compared quantitatively.

[EN] Gasoline direct injection (GDI) nozzles are manufactured to meet geometric specifications with length scales on the order of a few hundred microns. The machining tolerances of these nominal dimensions are not always known due to the difficulty in accurately measuring such small length scales in a nonintrusive fashion. To gain insight into the variability of the machined dimensions as well as any effects that this variability may have on the fuel spray behavior, a series of measurements of the internal geometry and fuel mass distribution were performed on a set of eight nominally duplicate GDI “Spray G” nozzles provided by the Engine Combustion Network. The key dimensions of each of the eight nozzle holes were measured with micron resolution using full spectrum x-ray tomographic imaging at the 7-BM beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Fuel density distributions at 2 mm downstream of the nozzle tips were obtained by performing x-ray radiography measurements for many lines of sight. The density measurements reveal nozzle-to-nozzle as well as hole-to-hole density variations. The combination of high-resolution geometry and fuel distribution datasets allows spray phenomena to be linked to specific geometric characteristics of the nozzle, such as variability in the hole lengths and counterbore diameters, and the hole inlet corner radii. This analysis provides important insight into which geometrical characteristics of the nozzles may have the greatest importance in the development of the injected sprays, and to what degree these geometric variations might account for the total spray variability. The goal of this work is then to further the understanding of the relationship between internal nozzle geometry and fuel injection, provide input to improve computational models, and ultimately aid in optimizing injector design for higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions engines.

[EN] Gasoline direct injection (GDI) nozzles are manufactured to meet geometric specifications with length scales on the order of a few hundred microns. The machining tolerances of these nominal dimensions are not always known due to the difficulty in accurately measuring such small length scales in a nonintrusive fashion. To gain insight into the variability of the machined dimensions as well as any effects that this variability may have on the fuel spray behavior, a series of measurements of the internal geometry and fuel mass distribution were performed on a set of eight nominally duplicate GDI “Spray G” nozzles provided by the Engine Combustion Network. The key dimensions of each of the eight nozzle holes were measured with micron resolution using full spectrum x-ray tomographic imaging at the 7-BM beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Fuel density distributions at 2 mm downstream of the nozzle tips were obtained by performing x-ray radiography measurements for many lines of sight. The density measurements reveal nozzle-to-nozzle as well as hole-to-hole density variations. The combination of high-resolution geometry and fuel distribution datasets allows spray phenomena to be linked to specific geometric characteristics of the nozzle, such as variability in the hole lengths and counterbore diameters, and the hole inlet corner radii. This analysis provides important insight into which geometrical characteristics of the nozzles may have the greatest importance in the development of the injected sprays, and to what degree these geometric variations might account for the total spray variability. The goal of this work is then to further the understanding of the relationship between internal nozzle geometry and fuel injection, provide input to improve computational models, and ultimately aid in optimizing injector design for higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions engines.

[EN] Post-injection dribble is known to lead to incomplete atomisation and combustion due to the release of slow moving, and often surface-bound, liquid fuel after the end of the injection event. This can have a negative effect on engine emissions, performance, and injector durability. To better quantify this phenomenon we present a new image processing approach to quantify the volume and surface area of ligaments produced during the end of injection, for an ECN ‘Spray B’ 3-hole injector. Circular approximation for cross-sections was used to estimate three-dimensional parameters of droplets and ligaments. The image processing consisted in three stages: edge detection, morphological reconstruction, and 3D reconstruction. For the last stage of 3D reconstruction, smooth surfaces were obtained by computation of the alpha shape which represents a bounding volume enveloping a set of 3D points. The object model was verified by calculation of surface area and volume from 2D images of figures with well-known shapes. We show that the object model fits non-spherical droplets and pseudo-cylindrical ligaments reasonably well. We applied our processing approach to datasets generated by different research groups to decouple the effect of gas temperature and pressure on the fuel dribble process. High-speed X-ray phase-contrast images obtained at room temperature conditions (297 K) at the 7-ID beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, together with diffused back-illumination (DBI) images captured at a wide range of temperature conditions (293-900 K) by CMT Motores Térmicos, were analysed and compared quantitatively.

[EN] Post-injection dribble is known to lead to incomplete atomisation and combustion due to the release of slow moving, and often surface-bound, liquid fuel after the end of the injection event. This can have a negative effect on engine emissions, performance, and injector durability. To better quantify this phenomenon we present a new image processing approach to quantify the volume and surface area of ligaments produced during the end of injection, for an ECN ‘Spray B’ 3-hole injector. Circular approximation for cross-sections was used to estimate three-dimensional parameters of droplets and ligaments. The image processing consisted in three stages: edge detection, morphological reconstruction, and 3D reconstruction. For the last stage of 3D reconstruction, smooth surfaces were obtained by computation of the alpha shape which represents a bounding volume enveloping a set of 3D points. The object model was verified by calculation of surface area and volume from 2D images of figures with well-known shapes. We show that the object model fits non-spherical droplets and pseudo-cylindrical ligaments reasonably well. We applied our processing approach to datasets generated by different research groups to decouple the effect of gas temperature and pressure on the fuel dribble process. High-speed X-ray phase-contrast images obtained at room temperature conditions (297 K) at the 7-ID beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, together with diffused back-illumination (DBI) images captured at a wide range of temperature conditions (293-900 K) by CMT Motores Térmicos, were analysed and compared quantitatively.

[EN] Post-injection dribble is known to lead to incomplete atomisation and combustion due to the release of slow moving, and often surface-bound, liquid fuel after the end of the injection event. This can have a negative effect on engine emissions, performance, and injector durability. To better quantify this phenomenon we present a new image processing approach to quantify the volume and surface area of ligaments produced during the end of injection, for an ECN ‘Spray B’ 3-hole injector. Circular approximation for cross-sections was used to estimate three-dimensional parameters of droplets and ligaments. The image processing consisted in three stages: edge detection, morphological reconstruction, and 3D reconstruction. For the last stage of 3D reconstruction, smooth surfaces were obtained by computation of the alpha shape which represents a bounding volume enveloping a set of 3D points. The object model was verified by calculation of surface area and volume from 2D images of figures with well-known shapes. We show that the object model fits non-spherical droplets and pseudo-cylindrical ligaments reasonably well. We applied our processing approach to datasets generated by different research groups to decouple the effect of gas temperature and pressure on the fuel dribble process. High-speed X-ray phase-contrast images obtained at room temperature conditions (297 K) at the 7-ID beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, together with diffused back-illumination (DBI) images captured at a wide range of temperature conditions (293-900 K) by CMT Motores Térmicos, were analysed and compared quantitatively.

[EN] Gasoline direct injection (GDI) nozzles are manufactured to meet geometric specifications with length scales on the order of a few hundred microns. The machining tolerances of these nominal dimensions are not always known due to the difficulty in accurately measuring such small length scales in a nonintrusive fashion. To gain insight into the variability of the machined dimensions as well as any effects that this variability may have on the fuel spray behavior, a series of measurements of the internal geometry and fuel mass distribution were performed on a set of eight nominally duplicate GDI “Spray G” nozzles provided by the Engine Combustion Network. The key dimensions of each of the eight nozzle holes were measured with micron resolution using full spectrum x-ray tomographic imaging at the 7-BM beamline of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Fuel density distributions at 2 mm downstream of the nozzle tips were obtained by performing x-ray radiography measurements for many lines of sight. The density measurements reveal nozzle-to-nozzle as well as hole-to-hole density variations. The combination of high-resolution geometry and fuel distribution datasets allows spray phenomena to be linked to specific geometric characteristics of the nozzle, such as variability in the hole lengths and counterbore diameters, and the hole inlet corner radii. This analysis provides important insight into which geometrical characteristics of the nozzles may have the greatest importance in the development of the injected sprays, and to what degree these geometric variations might account for the total spray variability. The goal of this work is then to further the understanding of the relationship between internal nozzle geometry and fuel injection, provide input to improve computational models, and ultimately aid in optimizing injector design for higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions engines.

Internal combustion engines have been and still are key players in today's world. Ever increasing fuel consumption standards and the ongoing concerns about exhaust emissions have pushed the industry to research new concepts and develop new technologies that address these challenges. To this end, the diesel direct injection system has recently seen the introduction of direct-acting piezoelectric injectors, which provide engineers with direct control over the needle lift, and thus instantaneous rate of injection (ROI). Even though this type of injector has been studied previously, no direct link between the instantaneous needle lift and the resulting rate of injection has been quantified. This study presents an experimental analysis of the relationship between instantaneous partial needle lifts and the corresponding ROI. A prototype direct-acting injector was utilized to produce steady injections of different magnitude by partially lifting the needle. The ROI measurements were carried out at CMT-Motores Termicos utilizing a standard injection rate discharge curve indicator based on the Bosch method (anechoic tube). The needle lift measurements were performed at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. The analysis seeks both to contribute to the current understanding of the influence that partial needle lifts have over the instantaneous ROI and to provide experimental data with parametric variations useful for numerical model validations. Results show a strong relationship between the steady partial needle lift and the ROI. The effect is non-linear, and also strongly dependent on the injection pressure. The steady lift value at which the needle ceases to influence the ROI increases with the injection pressure. Finally, a transient analysis is presented, showing that the needle velocity may considerably affect the instantaneous ROI, because of the volume displaced inside the nozzle. Results presented in this study show that at constant injection press

Internal combustion engines have been and still are key players in today's world. Ever increasing fuel consumption standards and the ongoing concerns about exhaust emissions have pushed the industry to research new concepts and develop new technologies that address these challenges. To this end, the diesel direct injection system has recently seen the introduction of direct-acting piezoelectric injectors, which provide engineers with direct control over the needle lift, and thus instantaneous rate of injection (ROI). Even though this type of injector has been studied previously, no direct link between the instantaneous needle lift and the resulting rate of injection has been quantified. This study presents an experimental analysis of the relationship between instantaneous partial needle lifts and the corresponding ROI. A prototype direct-acting injector was utilized to produce steady injections of different magnitude by partially lifting the needle. The ROI measurements were carried out at CMT-Motores Termicos utilizing a standard injection rate discharge curve indicator based on the Bosch method (anechoic tube). The needle lift measurements were performed at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. The analysis seeks both to contribute to the current understanding of the influence that partial needle lifts have over the instantaneous ROI and to provide experimental data with parametric variations useful for numerical model validations. Results show a strong relationship between the steady partial needle lift and the ROI. The effect is non-linear, and also strongly dependent on the injection pressure. The steady lift value at which the needle ceases to influence the ROI increases with the injection pressure. Finally, a transient analysis is presented, showing that the needle velocity may considerably affect the instantaneous ROI, because of the volume displaced inside the nozzle. Results presented in this study show that at constant injection press

[EN] Despite the importance of sprays to engine combustion, understanding has been hampered by the sensitivity of spray behavior to unknown nozzle geometry effects. The Engine Combustion Network (ECN) collaboration has focused on overcoming this impediment to spray research by focusing on a set of nominally identical diesel injectors. Detailed measurements of the nozzle geometry for the four ECN Spray A injectors (90 mu m diameter, axial single-hole nozzles) have been performed using x-ray tomography, x-ray phase-contrast imaging, silicone molding, and optical microscopy. Measurements of the needle motions (axial and lateral) and hydraulic performance of the nozzles have also been performed. Measurements of the nozzle geometry show that all of the nozzle holes are offset from the axis of the needle and sac. This offset creates an asymmetry in the inlet condition of the nozzle hole, which varies from nozzle to nozzle. The nozzle profile deviates significantly from the nominal specification, with an abrupt convergence of the nozzle holes near the nozzle exit seen in all of the injectors. Nozzle diameter measurements show a smaller diameter than the nominal specification, with significant differences between the injectors. Needle lift measurements show oscillatory behavior in both the axial and lateral motions of the needle. The hydraulic characterization of the nozzles demonstrates the impact of internal geometry (outlet diameter) on momentum and mass flow rate.