Experimental characterization of diesel ignition and lift-off length using a single-hole ECN injector

In this work, lift-off length and ignition delay have been measured via chemiluminescence techniques in a wide range of conditions for a single-hole injector from the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) dataset and using a single component fuel (n-dodecane). In addition, Schlieren technique was used to characterize the ignition event using a new developed post-processing methodology capable of characterizing the disappearance phenomenon linked to the start of cool flames. Experiments have been carried out in a novel constant-pressure flow facility able of reproducing engine-like thermodynamic conditions. Results show that oxygen concentration seems to have a negligible impact on the start of cool flames. Empirical correlations have been obtained for the three measured parameters and they manifest similar trends of other previously published correlations for lift-off length and second stage ignition. These correlations also underline that the effect of oxygen concentration and ambient density is caught differently by chemiluminescence and Schlieren techniques, even though the absolute value of the measurements remains close. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.