A Spray-Droplet Model for Diesel Combustion

A spray-burning model (based on single-droplet theory) for heat release in a diesel engine is presented. Comparison of computations using this model and experimental data from an operating diesel engine indicate that heat release rates are not adequately represented by single-droplet burning rates. A new concept is proposed, i.e. a burning coefficient for a fuel spray. Comparisons between computations and experimental data indicate that the numerical value of this coefficient is nearly independent of engine speed and combustion-chamber pressure. However, the instantaneous value of the spray burning coefficient is approximately proportional to the instantaneous mass-averaged cylinder gas temperature to the one-third power.