Improved Two-Phase Model for JP-8 and Alternative Fuels

The Air Force has identified a number of key issues for combustion systems as attention turns towards logistic fuel replacements (e.g., JP-8 in the near term; fuels such as Fischer-Tropsch derived fuels from coal, bio-oils or other feedstocks in the mid term blended with JP-8; and/or bio-derived fuels such as fatty acid methyl esterFAME; or hydroprocessed vegetable oils-HVO in the longer term).  DARPAs biojet program can be looked to for guidance on specific direction in future fuels for the near and long term.  The proposed project will conduct experiments directed at determining the role of fuel type on atomization, evaporation, and ignition of such fuels.  In parallel, models associated with these phenomenon will be assembled and used to predict the measured behavior.  The assembled package of models will be standalone or integratable into CFD environments.  The data obtained can be used to validate existing modeling approaches as well. BENEFIT: The proposed experiments will provide important fundamental data on atomization and evaporation of sprays for various alternative fuels.  This information will be of interest to commercial engine and injector manufacturers as they improve fuel flexibility of their products.  The models developed will be of interest to these same endusers as a means to help them improve existing products and develop new ones.