A Laser Diagnostic Technique for Sauter Mean Diameter of Fuel Oil Sprays

Abstract

A laser diffraction system was used to obtain the history of the Sauter mean diameter of an evaporating fuel spray. The errors due to the characteristic properties of the laser diffraction method were examined by using many kinds of sprays. Then, the application procedure was established by using a micro-computer system. The sectional Sauter mean diameter was introduced to examine the overall evaporation rate of a spray in hot air. The Sauter mean diameter of gasoline, kerosene and heavy oil sprays were measured. The Sauter mean diameter of an evaporating spray increased once and decreased at the end of the evaporation.