The analytical and numerical study of alternative fuel injectors for the purpose of reducing chemical pollution in aviation sector

Abstract

In this paper, both analytical and numerical analyses are conducted to study the behavior of a simplex time injector with a swirl chamber represented by a pin, designed to operate with kerosene. In an effort to reduce chemical pollution, the injector's performance when operating with alternative fuels such as biofuel and ethanol is investigated. Calculations have been performed to analyze the use of these three fuels at various pressures up to 100 bar. Analytical calculations were used to determine parameters such as spray angle, droplet size, fuel film thickness, and more. For a better visualization of the phenomena occurring during the injector's operation with these three fuels, numerical simulations were carried out using ANSYS, and the spray of droplets at various pressures at the injector inlet was presented. The study revealed that among the liquids studied, ethanol is the most optimal fuel. Ethanol has low viscosity and low density, making it easier to atomize by our injector compared to pure biofuel, which has higher density and viscosity values. The calculations demonstrated the qualities of ethanol following atomization, including a thin liquid film, a wide spray angle consisting of small-sized droplets, at any pressure difference, compared to the other studied fuels. It was observed that pressure difference has a significant impact on the atomization of a liquid. The best atomization qualities and optimal values were achieved when the pressure difference is high.