Spray ignition and local flow properties in a swirled confined spray-jet burner: experimental analysis

[EN] Laser ignition was investigated in the swirled, confined CORIA Rouen Spray Burner under ultra-lean conditions (=0.61) with n-heptane as the liquid fuel. Ignition probability was calculated for different spark locations and compared to the non-ignited local flow properties. Mean velocity components of the carrier flow were measured by PDA under spray presence and without spray, and are compared to mean values from PIV. PIV measurements provide information on the instantaneous airflow and the total strain rate. Fuel droplet size-velocity data was measured by PDA. Toluene-PLIF images were acquired to provide information on the local equivalence ratio and the flammability factor. Results show that the outer recirculation zone (ORZ) has a flammability factor close to 1 and the highest ignition probability (~80%). These results have a high correlation with the air velocity field and turbulent kinetic energy. Instantaneous equivalence ratio images and shear rate-velocity fields give important information on local segregation of the flow properties that help to understand the ignition process. The present work provides a useful database for numerical simulations and industry, plus new insight on spray ignition.