Comparative Spray Atomization and Evaporation Characteristics of Dimethyl Ether and Mineral Diesel

Abstract

Dimethyl ether is a new-generation alternative fuel to mitigate cold-start issues in compression ignition engines. It has a higher cetane number and can efficiently lead to superior atomization and evaporation characteristics. This computational study compares Dimethyl ether and baseline diesel sprays in a constant-volume spray chamber. This simulation study compares spray and evaporation characteristics en-hancement due to Dimethyl ether adaptation. Fuel properties greatly influence spray atomization and evaporation characteristics. This study is based on the Eu-lerian-Lagrangian approach adopted in the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes framework. The liquid spray penetration obtained by simulations matched well with the experimental results of Dimethyl ether and baseline diesel. Spray model con-stants were tuned for diesel and Dimethyl ether separately, as the fuel properties of both test fuels are completely different. These tuned models were used to simulate Dimethyl ether and diesel sprays at fixed fuel injection timings and ambient condi-tions. Results showed a lower spray penetration length for Dimethyl ether than die-sel because of the flash boiling of Dimethyl ether. Smaller diameter droplets formed due to Dimethyl ether's lower viscosity, density, surface tension, and higher evapora-tion rate. The reduction in Sauter mean diameter was quite sharp after the start of injection for the Dimethyl ether. Diesel spray showed retarded atomization and evaporation compared to Dimethyl ether. The vapour penetration length of both fuels was almost the same; however, the vapor mass fraction was higher for Dime-thyl ether than baseline diesel. Dimethyl ether spray showed superior spray atomi-zation and improved evaporation of Dimethyl ether droplets.