The objective of this paper is to introduce a new method for full-field measurement of local average gas-phase fuel concentration in a transient axisymmetrical gas-jet or evaporating spray. Since the combustion process in a diesel engine is a diffusion flame, the local fuel concentration as a function of time is one of the factors that governs engine efficiency and emissions.
The method is utilizing the classic Schlieren technique. A CCD camera and frame-grabber combination is used to record the data. Based on these data and the assumption that the flow-field is axisymmetrical, the local index of light refraction is calculated, and from this an estimate of the local gas-phase fuel concentration is made. Since the flow-field is turbulent, data from a large number of separate injections are used. Therefore the results should represent the development of the average flow-field. Since it is a full-field method, the results can be checked for overall conservation of mass.
Included is the theory of the method, a description of the experimental equipment and the results of the experiments.
The method has been tested using methane and propane fuels at room temperatures and the results show that the total mass of fuel found in the flow-field is in good agreement with the mass-flow through the nozzle.