An Experimental Test Facility for Studying the Effects of Turbulence on the Evaporation of Fuel Droplets at Elevated Pressure and Temperature Conditions

Abstract

A test rig was developed in an effort to perform droplet evaporation and combustion experiments at high levels of turbulent intensity under elevated pressures and temperatures. The detailed explanation of the design and operation of the various components that are part of the testing apparatus is presented. Once the apparatus was completed, 2D Laser Doppler Velocimetry measurements were used to fully characterize the turbulent field inside the chamber. The results showed that the test rig was capable of producing homogenous isotropic turbulence with a 40 mm central region of the chamber at turbulent kinetic energy levels of up to 5.0 m/s. From the characterization data a correlation of turbulent kinetic energy vs fan speed was produced. The produced correlation is valid at standard conditions as well as elevated pressures and temperatures. After determination of the turbulent field, droplet evaporation experiments were performed, first at standard conditions and then elevated temperature and pressure. The results show that turbulence continued to enhance droplet evaporation at elevated temperature and pressures, 298-348°K and 1-21 bar respectively. Broad conclusions are then drawn from the work performed in the study and recommendations are made for future work and improvements to the test apparatus.