Experimental research on the influence of aviation fuel temperature on swirl nozzle velocity

The purpose of this research was to explore the effects of various fuel temperatures on the injection velocity of swirl nozzles. A phase Doppler particle analyzer (PDPA) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) were used to measure the velocity of fuel sprayed by an injector into the normal atmosphere. The flow characteristics and velocities of the droplet were studied at low to high temperatures (−40 °C to 80 °C). The results showed that: 1) the flow number (FN) and mass flow of the swirl nozzle decreased with the increase of the fuel temperature under the same supply pressure; 2) the existence of “pressure critical point” and “temperature critical point” makes the nozzle flow pattern and spray pattern change, thereby changing the distribution of droplet velocity and particle size in space; 3) the PDPA measurement results showed that under the same supply pressure, a larger droplet velocity on the fuel mist cone and a smaller Sauter Mean Diamter (SMD) were measured at high temperature of fuel.