A Simple Technique for Predicting Optimum Fuel-Air Mixing Conditions in a Direct Injection Diesel Engine with Swirl

Correlations of simply calculated fuel spray parameters with measured ISFC and smoke trends in a swirling direct injection diesel engine are described. These are based on a large number of results from experiments carried out on a 120.7 mm bore engine in which the induction swirl could be varied.

The correlations indicate that (i) the fuel spray tip velocity at impingement on the chamber wall and (ii) the ‘crosswind’ over the spray at impingement have important influences. Based on these it is deduced that engine speed-related turbulence is a rate-controlling factor in DI diesel combustion.