Numerical investigation of the spray characteristics in an outwardly-opening piezoelectric gasoline injector for different ambient conditions

Abstract

In this study, the spray characteristics of an outwardly-opening injector have been investigated numerically. Numerical analyses are carried out by taking temperature and pressure statuses of the internal combustion engine in cold temperature operations into consideration. The effects of these parameters on the evaporation rate, penetration, spray morphology, angle of the fuel spray and the Sauter Mean Diameter were key issues to be addressed. N-heptane fuel was used and the Kelvin-Helmholtz / Rayleigh-Taylor breakup model was adopted. The analyses were performed in the comprehensive environment of Fluent software. It was observed that the results complied with experimental data taking part in literature. Consequences demonstrated that increasing the ambient pressure intensified vortex formation, decreased penetration and increased fuel cone angle by forming a more compact fuel bundle. In addition, it was ascertained that theeffect of the temperature parameter on the evaporation was less effective than the pressure parameter.