Effect of atomizer and cross-flows on liquid and gelled Jet A-1 fuel injection

The current study aims to experimentally investigate the effect of atomizer and cross-flow velocities on liquid and gelled Jet A-1 fuels. For gelled Jet A-1, Jet A-1 liquid, Thixatrol ® ST and rectified xylene are the base fuel, gellant and solvent, respectively. Gelled Jet A-1 is prepared by adding 85% by weight of base fuel along with 7.5% by weight of gellant and solvent, each at optimum processing conditions. Atomization using a simple-plain-orifice atomizer is investigated to understand its effect on Jet A-1 gel fuel break-up without air cross-flow. Based on the investigation from qualitative flow visualization and quantitative analysis of Jet A-1 gel fuel break-up, a modified simple-plain-orifice atomizer called an internally impinging air-blast atomizer is made. Primary atomization using this new atomizer is studied to understand the break-up of liquid and gelled Jet A-1 gel fuels without any air cross-flow. Secondary atomization of liquid and gel fuel is investigated by transversely injecting fuel into different low-speed subsonic air cross-flow environments. Laser sheet Imaging (LSI) technique is used to capture spray images of both fuels. Break-up mechanisms of both liquid and gel fuels were observed, and the results were compared. Information on the cross-flow air mass flow rate effect on the liquid and gel spray is extracted by developing an algorithm in MATLAB using an image processing tool. Relative droplet size distribution of liquid and gel spray revealed their dependence on cross-flow air mass flow rate. Total droplet count of both liquid and gel fuel decreases significantly as the cross-flow Reynolds’ number increases. At higher cross-flow Reynolds’ number, gel droplets in the flow are observed to be more as compared to liquid fuel.