Fuel temperature influence on the performance of a last generation common-rail diesel ballistic injector. Part I: Experimental mass flow rate measurements and discussion

•Effects of fuel temperature on mass flow rate are experimentally assessed.•Temperatures from 253 to 373K are tested, representing engine-like conditions.•Fuel temperature impacts the injection duration for a solenoid ballistic injector.•Fuel properties and flow regime changes influence the stationary mass flow rate.•Fuel temperature influence on the injection is higher at low injection pressures. An experimental study is conducted in this paper in order to assess the influence of the fuel temperature on the performance of a last generation common-rail ballistic solenoid injector. Mass flow rate measurements are performed for a wide range of temperatures, extending from 253 to 373K, representative of all the possible operating conditions of the injector in a real diesel engine, including cold start. The high pressure line and the injector holder were refrigerated, making it possible to carefully control the fuel temperature, whereas measurements at cold conditions were carried out with the help of a climatic chamber. Relevant features such as stationary mass flow, injection delay or the behaviour at the opening and closing stages are analysed together with parameters governing the flow, such as the injector discharge coefficient. Results show an important influence of the fuel temperature, especially at low injection pressure. A low injection temperature results in a lower stationary mass flow rate, whereas injection duration is also reduced. These results will be explained mainly through the fuel properties variation induced by temperature, together with the ballistic nature of the injector used for the study. A second part of the paper introduces a one-dimensional model that makes it possible to reproduce these results and further explain them through the analysis of other relevant variables, such as the needle lift.