Spray Structure Generated by Multi-Hole Injectors for Gasoline Direct-Injection Engines

The performance of multi-hole injectors designed for use in second-generation direct-injection gasoline engines has been characterised in a constant-volume chamber. Two types of multi-hole injector have been used: the first has 11 holes, with one hole on the axis of the injector and the rest around the axis at 30 degrees apart, and the second has 6 asymmetric holes located around the nozzle axis. Measurements of droplet axial and radial velocity components and their diameter were obtained using a 2-D phase Doppler anemometer (PDA) at injection pressures up to 120 bar, chamber pressures from atmospheric to 8 bar, and ambient temperatures. Complementary spray visualisation made use of a pulsed light and a CCD camera synchronised with the injection process.

Comparison of the results between the two injectors has allowed quantification of the influence of the number of holes and nozzle length-to-diameter ratio on the spray structure and spray tip penetration, droplet velocity and size distribution as a function of injection and chamber pressures of relevance to gasoline passenger cars.