Experimental Investigation of Injection Pressure Fluctuations Employing Alternative Fuels
12643
Abstract
Injection pressure oscillations are proven to determine considerable deviations from the expected mass flow rate, leading to the jet velocities non-uniformity, which in turn implies the uneven spatial distribution of A/F ratio. Furthermore, once the injector is triggered, these oscillations might lead the rail pressure to experience a decreasing stage, to the detriment of spray penetration length, radial propagation and jet break-up timing. This has urged the research community to develop models predicting injection-induced pressure fluctuations within the rail. Additionally, several devices have been designed to minimize and eliminate such fluctuations. However, despite the wide literature dealing with the injection-induced pressure oscillations, many aspects remain still unclear. Moreover, the compulsory compliance with environmental regulations has shifted focus onto alternative fuels, which represent a promising pathway for sustainable vehicle mobility. This scenario has motivated the authors to undertake an experimental campaign devoted to assess the rail pressure fluctuations employing neat diesel and two furan-based blends under various injection settings. The blends are referred as MF30 and MF50, given the volumetric composition of 30% and 50% of 2-methylfuran, respectively. The paper describes the technical and scientific details of the research activity, which aims to provide a further insight into the correlation of rail pressure fluctuations with fuel properties.