The fuel atomization characteristics in engine applications are crucial in determining combustion stability, efficiency, and exhaust gas emissions. In order to estimate these vital characteristic features of an engine, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the spray structure, in particular, the Spatio-temporal distribution of droplets. In a conventional fuel spray, the atomization of multi-component fuel droplets can play an active role in minimizing CO2, NOx, and unburned soot particles emanating from the combustion process. The combustion efficiency and exhaust gas emissions can also be improved by using biofuels as additives to conventional transportation fuels.
A major effort in our lab is to provide some key physical insights into blended fuel droplet combustion so that later these results can aid in minimizing combustion instabilities that may originate from inadequate atomization, vaporization and mixing at the droplet level and cause extreme loss of performance and efficiency.
Publications
Atomization characteristics and instabilities in the combustion of multi-component fuel droplets with high volatility differential
D. Chaitanya Kumar Rao, S. Karmakar, S. Basu
Scientific Reports 7, 8925, 2017.
Bubble dynamics and atomization mechanisms in burning multi-component droplets
D. Chaitanya Kumar Rao, S. Karmakar, S. Basu
Physics of Fluids 30, 067101, 2018. (“Editor’s pick”).
Crown formation and atomization in multi-component fuel droplets
D. Chaitanya Kumar Rao, S. Karmakar
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 98, 303-308, 2018.
Puffing and micro-explosion behavior in the combustion of butanol/Jet A-1 and acetone-butanol ethanol (ABE)/Jet A-1 fuel droplets
D. Chaitanya Kumar Rao, S. Karmakar, S. K. Som
Combustion Science and Technology 189, 1796-1812, 2017.
Experimental investigations on nucleation, bubble growth and micro-explosion characteristics during the combustion of ethanol/Jet A-1 fuel droplets
D. Chaitanya Kumar Rao, S. Syam, S. Karmakar, R. Joarder
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 89, 284-294, 2017.