LAUSR

Abstract The ignition, injection, and micro-explosion characteristics of aviation fuel (RP-3)/ethanol mixed droplets and biodiesel/ethanol mixed droplets at different proportions under high temperature conditions (420 °C) were compared using an experimental setup. A device for measuring small droplet volumes was designed using an infusion set and different types of needles, and a corresponding equation was established. Mixed droplets suspended on high-temperature resistance nichrome wire with a diameter of 0.2 mm were heated by sending them to a position approximately 2 mm from the forklift preheating plug using a moving rail. SLR and high-speed cameras were used to observe the flame structure as well as the injection and micro-explosion of the mixed droplets during combustion, respectively. Expansion, injection, and micro-explosion were observed in the biodiesel/ethanol mixed droplet experiments when the biodiesel content was 60%. Although the micro-explosion of mixed droplets of aviation fuel/ethanol was not observed, expansion and ejection of the droplets were observed. Image Pro-plus software was used to calculate the diameters at different times in the combustion cycle of the droplets. Through this analysis, the occurrence of micro-explosion was described, and a model for the calculation of micro-explosion strength was established.