PhD studentships on non-spherical droplets in high-pressure fuel sprays

The successful award allows for doctoral student engagement with the University of Brighton project, Non-spherical droplets in high pressure sprays.

The proposal sought to initiate a step change in the description of petroleum and bio fuel spray formation by developing diagnostics and numerical models specifically focused on non-spherical droplets and ligaments.

The approach built upon recent advances with microscopic imaging to build novel diagnostics and algorithms that can measure the shape, size, velocity and gaseous surrounding of individual droplets and ligaments. This morphological classification, along with the velocity measurements, will be used to develop new phenomenological and numerical models for spray breakup, heating and evaporation.

The models will then be implemented into computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes to simulate spray mixing under modern engine conditions, and generate information where optical diagnostics cannot be applied. These goals will be achieved by combining the expertise of the academic and industrial partners with that of international experts from the University of Bergamo, CORIA, and Moscow State University.

The project's concerted approach, aimed at removing the experimental and numerical biases towards spherical droplets, will establish a unique world leading research capability with potential impact for numerous practical spray applications. It underpinned research in areas that rely upon the atomisation or evaporation of liquids, including the efficient delivery of liquid fuel, pharmaceutical drugs, cryogens, lubricants and selective catalytic reductants.