This paper deals with the problem of quantifying and predicting the macroscopic spray behaviour as a function of the parameters governing the injection process. The parameters studied were ambient gas density as a representative parameter external to the system, and nozzle hole diameter and injection pressure as influential system parameters.
The main purpose of this research is to validate and extend the different correlations available in the literature to the actual Diesel engine conditions, i.e. high injection pressure, small nozzle holes, severe cavitating conditions, etc.
The sprays from five axi-symmetrical nozzles with different diameters are characterized in two different test rigs that can reproduce the real engine in-cylinder air density and pressure.
The wide parametric study that was performed has permitted to quantify the effects of the injection pressure, nozzle hole diameter and environment gas density on the spray tip penetration. The experimental results obtained from both test rigs have shown good agreement with the theoretical analysis. However, when compared between themselves, there have been observed small but consistent differences between the two test rigs, from the spray penetration and cone angle viewpoint.