Distinguished Fellow: Advanced Flow-Independent Fuel Injector for Naval Propulsion
Abstract
The performance and limitations of Naval warfighter engine systems are severely influenced by the liquid fuel injection spray dynamics. The characteristics of the fuel spray in terms of liquid fuel injection, jet break-up, atomization, and mixing are critical forefficient combustion and propulsion performance. The performance of the fuel injection spray is sensitive to the engine operating condition resulting in varying fuel placement over the operating envelope. This can lead to sub-optimal fueling and combustion stability issues for engines. Furthermore, jet fuels and alternatives can have significantly different physical properties, may therefore exacerbate fuel placement issues. Generally, these systems inject liquid sprays from small diameter orifices at high Reynolds and Weber number regimes. This results in a turbulent dense spray environment that is extremely complex. The multi-phase liquid jet fuel interaction with the varying crossflow is extreme difficult due to the varying conditions of the fueling level and the engine operating conditions that drives the crossflow. Advanced Flow-Independent (FI) fuel injection is needed to neutralize turbulent fuel spray deposition in an engine independent of the engine operating load condition. Augmenting the understanding of flow-independent fuel injection characteristics through advance optical diagnostic techniques will pave the path for improved Navy combustion-based propulsion and power systems in terms of enhanced efficiency, broadened operating limits, and improved performance.The scientific objective of the proposed work is to investigate the dominant physical processes and dynamics of multi-phase Flow-Independent (FI) fuel injector sprays in terms of optimal breakup and atomization. The innovation of the flow-independent fuel injection is based on the liquid-solid-gas interactions where the liquid jet interacts with a solid surface (pintle) which drives and controls the jet breakup which is then followed by crossflow gas interaction. This innovative injection approach uniformly and consistently deposits the fuel in the engine#s combustion chamber independent of the operating condition. The research will experimentally explore the spray and splash dynamics of the flow-independent fuel injection scheme using advanced laser diagnostic imaging techniques. The research program willfocus on fundamental understanding and control of fuel spray atomization and mixing with the objectives of a) developing viable FI fuel injection concepts for future Navy engines, b) investigating the FI fuel injection concepts at various engine-relevant flow regimes, and c) exploring the interaction and control of the fuel jet flow to drive spray atomization and combustion. The measurements and data will provide new validation data for predictive numerical models under conditions that are relevant to engine systems. Thiswill enable new investigations of primary and secondary breakup, liquid atomization, and spray dynamics, which will significantly advance the performance and proliferation of efficient Naval propulsion systems for Navy warfighter technological superiority and dominance.Approved for public release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 21, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142412005
Entities
People
- Kareem Ahmed
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Central Florida Board of Trustees