The influence of liquid viscosity on atomized fuel mean droplet size determined by the laser diffraction method

The article presents the impact of viscosity of fuel on its atomization, which constitutes an important element of controlling the quality of the fuel-air mixture in compression ignition and direct injection engines. An experiment has been made using a three-hole atomizer of an engine with nominal power of 110 kW and revolutions n = 2800 min-1. Fuel was delivered by a PRW-2M injection pump intended for testing injectors. Fuel was sprayed in the atmospheric air. Three petroleum product liquids used for the experiment had a viscosity of, respectively, 3.93, 16.73 and 36.41 mm2/s. The fuel droplet size in a spray was determined by the laser diffraction method by means of a Spraytec STP 5929 analyzer. The quantity adopted for comparative purposes was the Sauter Mean Diameter D32. The results confirmed that a change of fuel viscosity within the range recommended by ship engine manufacturers has a strong impact on the size of sprayed fuel droplets. Shipowners have a limited choice of low sulphur fuel grade (up to 0.1% S), which forces the engine room personnel to use currently available fuels. Depending on the supplier, marine fuels may vary in viscosity and, according to the recommendations of engine manufacturers, they do not require heating. The increase in the size of the droplets injected into the fuel combustion chamber may affect the quality of the fuel-air mixture, increase of fuel consumption and a greater content of harmful exhaust constituents.