Fuel property and fuel temperature effects on internal nozzle flow,atomization and cyclic spray fluctuations of a direct injection spark ignition–injector

The effect of fuel properties and fuel temperature on the behaviour of the internal nozzle flow, atomization and cyclic spray fluctuations is examined for a three-hole direct injection spark ignition injector by combining numerical simulation of the nozzle flow with macroscopic and microscopic spray visualization techniques. A dominant influence of the liquid fuel viscosity on the highly unsteady, cavitating nozzle flow and spray formation was observed. A reduced viscosity (or larger Reynolds number) increases the flow velocity, turbulence and cavitation in the nozzle and leads to a slim spray with a reduced width but increased spray penetration. Furthermore, the spray cone angle is larger for lower Reynolds numbers due to the changed internal nozzle flow profile as predicted by the numerical calculation. The shot-to-shot fluctuations of the sprays were found to have their origin in the highly unsteady, cavitating nozzle flow. Larger cyclic spray fluctuations were observed at low Reynolds numbers although the predicted vapour formation in the nozzle is weaker. This can be explained by flow instabilities at low Reynolds numbers leading to large fluctuations in the nozzle flow.