Acoustically Levitated Fuel Droplet Evaporation at High Temperatures: An Experimental Investigation

Abstract

Abstract Fuel droplet evaporation characteristics are critical for fuel engine efficiency, energy conservation, and emission reduction. This paper presents experimental studies on fuel droplet evaporation with ultrasonic standing wave levitation and high-speed camera to explore the influences of temperatures and droplet properties, including the initial diameter and droplet component. The evaporation of fuel droplets such as hexadecane and diesel are recorded over a temperature range of 150°C to 550°C, with an initial droplet equivalent diameter of 0.10–0.30 mm. Evaporation rate is positively correlated with temperature and may vary by 15–71% between hexadecane and diesel droplets.