2010 WASE International Conference on Information Engineering

Spray Characteristics of New Generation Multi-hole Injector for Spark-ignition

Gasoline Engines with Direct Fuel Injection

Ning Ding Wei-min Gao, Ming Chen, Xiao-mao Zhang

school of automotive engineering department of engine
tongji university saic motor technical center
Shanghai, China Shanghai, China
e-mail: dingning5551430@163.com e-mail:lishuwei5551430@21cn.com

Abstract—This paper discusses the spray characteristics of a and the development process of the liquid gasoline spray in
new generation multi-hole injector for spark-ignition gasoline the previously work and studies the spray characteristics
engines with direct fuel injection (DISI) and homogeneous using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software based on
combustion system. In order to satisfy the design request of the fuel of n-heptanes. Then, deeply research the spray
combustion system, numerical simulates the liquid spray parameters in every special work condition.
progress using currency commences star-cd code. In the work,
the injection pulse rule is kept almost constant. But the Spark plug
investigation parameters are varied categorical in different Injector
steps for each parameter (fuel pressures, fuel temperature, air
pressure, air temperature and swirl). Deeply research the
spray parameters (spray penetration, sauter mean diameter
(SMD) and evaporated rate) in every work condition.

Keywords-multi-hole injector; spark-ignition gasoline

engines; homogeneous combustion system; spray penetration;
sauter mean diameter

I. INTRODUCTION Figure 1. The sketch map of homogeneous combustion system with muti-
hole injector.
Recently, as the rigid law in every country for low engine
emissions together with global demand for better fuel
economy, the DISI engine application which have
homogeneous combustion system and muti-hole injector in
the center of cylinder head will became the main
development goal in the field of passenger cars’ engine [1-3].
Fig.1 shows the specific structures of this combustion system.
The stratified wall-guided combustion system with the
hollow-cone sprays which was investigated a lot in the
worldwide before will not meet the demand because the
spray shape changed too much when the air pressure
changed [4]. So it’s disadvantage to control spray shape in Figure 2. The sketch map of stratified wall-guided combustion
different work conditions. Further more, it needs additional system with hollow-cone spray.
complex exhaust gas treatment for reduction of nitrogen
emission. From an economic standpoint, the stratified wall-
guided combustion system is not a successful due to higher II. SPRAY MODEL AND FUEL PROPERTY
system costs and complexity of calibrating the vehicle’s The column form computation meshes mode is setup in
engine management and exhaust treatment system [5]. At star-cd 4.08 codes. The radius of the mode is 80mm and the
last, it will be gradually replaced in the future. Fig.2 shows height of the mode is 150mm. It applies the hexahedron
the sketch map of this combustion system [6, 7]. meshes structure. The total number of the fluid meshes is
The holes numbers and the lay position of the new 80000. The structure of the meshes mode is showed in Fig.3.
generation muti-hole injector have stronger adjustability The injector is installed in the top center of the meshes
based on the design requirements of the combustion system. model. Six holes are distributed around the center of the
It could be better organized macro-mixture distribution and injector. The Fig.4 shows the sketch map of liquid spray
improve the mixing of oil and gas. However, the relevant model from 0 angle of view and 90 angle of view. “S”
engine type and information at home and abroad is very represents the maximal spray penetration in axes direction.
little, so it needs in-depth study. The writer analysis the flow

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DOI 10.1109/ICIE.2010.240
 The Lagrange method is used to track the droplets in the III. THE NUMERICAL SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS
simulation process. In additional, the mass equation,
movement equation and energy equation are added to make
the calculation closed. The standard k-ε model is used as
turbulence model with the wall function method for
boundary layer treatment; the breakup model is reitz; the
evaporation model is reitz-diwakar; the droplet-wall
interaction model is bai. The boiling phenomenon is also
taken into account in the model. The fuel of n-heptanes is
chosen to replace the gasoline according to SAE criterion
during the simulation. The basic property of n-heptanes is
listed in Tab. I.
(a) 0 angle of view

Figure 3. Meshes mode for spray computation.

(b) 90 angle of view

(a) 0 angle of view (b) 90 angle of view

Figure 4. CAD mode for spray computation. (c) bottom view
Figure 5. The multi-hole gasoline spray shape obtained from simulation.

TABLE I. FUEL PROPERTY OF N-HEPTANES
Factors
Density
Molecular weight kg/kmol
Thermal expan.coel
Molecular viscosity
Specific heat
Conductivity
Heat of formation
Temperature of formation
Critical temperature
Critical pressure
Boiling temperature
Fig.5 shows the spray shape obtained from three different
views. The grids are added to make spray characteristics
Unit Variations more precision. In the beginning of the injection process
kg/m3 2.486 relatively large droplets are observed at the center of the
100 nozzle exit, as the momentum of the fuel spray is not yet
1/K 0 sufficient enough to break up. In the second phase, a liquid
kg/ms 1.0137×10E-5 sheet is formed around every nozzle periphery and goes
J/kg.K 2526.92 through subsequent breakup into smaller droplets due to the
w/mk 0.03248 integrate action of air cut, turbulent flow and the surface
J/kg -1.872×10E+6 tensile force. In the final phase a full developed spray occurs
K 298.15 with a extend spray angle due to diffuse action. The parcels
K 540.15
are assumed to have same diameter with nozzle exit
Pa 2.736×10E+6
geometry, since it is difficult to determine every parcel’s
diameter. This spray model can be used to predict integer
K 371.57
characteristics of fuel spray rather than single parcel. Besides
the reason of irregular edge and superpose view, the Fig.4
and Fig.5 almost have same shape.

266
A. Different Air Temperature according to the curve of 400 oC, but it reduces more quickly
at the action of evaporation.
TABLE II. WORK CONDTION
B. Different Air Pressure
Air temp Air press Oil temp Oil press Swirl
[oC] [bar] [oC] [bar] [ω] TABLE III. WORK CONDTION
20
Air press Air temp Oil temp Oil press Swirl
200 1 20 100 0 [bar] [oC] [oC] [bar] [ω]
400 1

180
4
20 20 100 0
7
Sauter mean diameter (μ m)

160 20 ℃

140
200℃ 10
400℃
120
60
100
1bar

Sauter mean diameter (μ m)

80 50 4bar
7bar
60
10bar
40 40
20

0 30
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time (ms) 20
(a)
140
10
Injector rate 20℃ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
120
200℃ 400℃ Time (ms)
Evaporated rate (%)

100
(a)
50
80
1bar
60 40 4bar
Evaporated rate (%)

7bar
40 10bar
30
20

0 20
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time (ms) 10
(b)
160
0
140 20℃ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Spray penetration (mm)

200℃ Time (ms)

120 400℃
(b)
100 140

80 120 1bar
4bar
Spray penetration (mm)

60 7bar
100
10bar
40
80
20
60
0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 40
Time (ms)
20
(c)
Figure 6. The simulation results of spray characteristics 0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Time (ms)
The Fig.6 shows the simulation results of spray
characteristics in different air temperature. The work (c)
condition in detail can be found in the Tab.II. From the Fig.6, Figure 7. The simulation results of spray characteristics
we could see that when the air temperature is higher, the
evaporate rate and spray penetration is also larger. Because The results tell that the SMD is smaller and the spray
the molecular viscosity is lower and the air cut action penetration is shorter when the air pressure became bigger.
reduces at that condition. The SMD is large at the first 5 ms The main reason is that the parcels should stand against more

267
baffles which come from the exterior air. The evaporated rate
is highest when the air pressure is around 4 bar. If the air
pressure is too high, it also difficult to molecule diffuses.
C. Different Oil Pressure
TABLE IV.
molecule parcels will get higher velocity and momentum at
the beginning of the injecting. It‘s more easy to conquer the
baffles come from the exterior air. At the same time, the
SMD and evaporation rate is also better due to molecule
diffuse.
WORK CONDTION D. Different Oil Temperature

Oil press Air press Oil temp Air temp Swirl

TABLE V. WORK CONDTION
[bar] [bar] [oC] [oC] [ω]
50 Oil temp Air temp Air press Oil press Swirl
100 1 20 20 0 [oC] [oC] [bar] [bar] [ω]
150 -20
20
20 1 100 0
180 60
Sauter mean diameter (μ m)

160 50bar 100

100bar
140
150bar
120 60

Sauter mean diameter (μ m)

100 -20℃
80 20℃
50
60℃
60 100℃
40
40
20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 30
Time (ms)
(a)
50 20
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
50bar Time (ms)
40 100bar
Evaporated rate (%)

150bar (a)
50
30
-20℃
40 20℃
Evaporated rate (%)

20
60℃
100℃
30
10

20
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
10
Time (ms)
(b)
140 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
120 50bar
Time (ms)
Spray penetration (mm)

100bar
100
150bar (b)
140
80 -20℃
120 20℃
Spray penetration (mm)

60 60℃
100 100℃
40
80
20
60
0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 40
Time (ms)
20
(c)
0
Figure 8. The simulation results of spray characteristics 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Time (ms)
The Fig.8 shows that the spray penetration is longer (c)
when oil pressure is 150 bar compared to other two work
Figure 9. The simulation results of spray characteristics
conditions at the same time. The main reason is that the

268
 The Fig.9 tells that the spray penetration hasn’t the (c)
obvious change during different oil temperature. But the Figure 10. The simulation results of spray characteristics
parcels are easily to evaporate as the oil temperature is
higher. Mainly due to the liquid molecule should not absorb From the results, we can know that the swirl only have a
too much energy when evaporating. When the temperature is little effect on the spray characteristic above in the whole.
high, the internal frame is instability. It’s also easily to break The evaporated rate improves 7.9% and the SMD reduces
up so that the SMD is smaller. 2.45% compared with the curve of 3000 and 1000. Because
the air flow can accelerate the droplets movement and
E. Different Swirl increase the contact chance of the air and droplets to some
extent.
TABLE VI. WORK CONDTION
IV. CONCLUSION
Swirl Air temp Air press Oil press Oil temp
[ω] [oC] [bar] [bar] [oC] A particle-based new generation multi-hole injector for
0 DISI engine is built in star-cd code. The overall spray
1000 characteristics, just like spray penetration, Sauter Mean
20 1 100 20 Diameter (SMD) and evaporated rate are separately
2000
investigated in different work condition. The compared
3000
figures are given to make the phenomena more clearly. The
50 computation results show that higher air temperature and
higher oil pressure have distinct good effect on evaporate
Sauter mean diameter (μ m)

0
45 1000 and fuel-air mixture action to form a homogeneous mixing.
2000 When the air pressure is high, the parcels should stand
3000
40 against more baffles which come from the exterior air and
the flow cut action is also enhanced. It seems that the higher
35 oil temperature and stronger air flow can enhance mixing
action, but it is not useful to improve the spray penetration.
30
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
25
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The first author is a student for PhD; he would like to
Time (ms) thank the financial support from saic motor technical center
(a) and technique support from CDAJ Company.
40

0
1000 REFERENCES
Evaporated rate (%)

30 2000
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20

0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Time (ms)

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