Relationships between dynamic behavior and properties of a single droplet of water-emulsified n-dodecane

Abstract

Water-fuel emulsion liquids are used in variety of combustion systems to suppress pollutant emission and to control flame characteristics. However, the characteristics of fluid-dynamics, phase change, and combustion were significantly affected by the variation of the emulsion properties. In this study, three representative properties (i.e., surface tension, dynamic viscosity, and light absorbance) were investigated for water-emulsified n-dodecane as a diesel fuel surrogate. First, these properties were preliminarily measured with three independent ordinary methods, and the property variation coupled with the micro-structures within the emulsion was discussed. After that, a new method able to estimate the same three properties was suggested. An emulsion droplet was disturbed using a pulse-laser, and its dynamic behavior was analyzed based on the Taylor's analogy breakup model. Thus, more reliable properties could be proposed for determining the dynamic behaviors of an emulsion droplet, and the relationship between the properties and dynamic behaviors could be better understood.