Optical characterization of ethanol spray flame on a constant volume combustion chamber

Studying pure ethanol spray flame has the potential to achieve the carbon neutrality vision. This paper studies the effects of fuel injection masses (12, 24, 36 mg) and fuel injection pressures (30, 40, 50 MPa) on ethanol spray flame on an optically visualized constant volume combustion chamber. Further compared with the spray flame of methanol and n-butanol. The combustion characteristics and flame development process were revealed by flame self-illumination high-speed imaging method, and the soot distribution was revealed by wavelength integration two-color method. Results show that ethanol spray flame presents an unstable yellow flame with many wrinkles. Small injection masses exist a partial flame-quenching phenomenon. As injection mass increases, the soot lift-off length decreases, and the flame brightness, soot concentration, and ignition delay increase. The high soot concentration areas locate upstream of the flame, and there is almost no soot downstream. Increased injection pressure increases the soot lift-off length and decreases the flame brightness. The ignition delay is shortened from 8.388 ms to 6.955 ms when injection pressure increases from 30 MPa to 40 MPa. But higher injection pressure has a negligible effect on reducing ignition delay. Finally, an ethanol spray combustion conceptual model is proposed. This paper gives particular guiding significance to the future use of carbon-neutral ethanol in diesel engines.