Vaporization of Bicomponent Droplets Exposed to Asymmetric Radiant Heating

Abstract

In this work, the fuel vapor distribution around vaporizing bicomponent droplets, exposed to asymmetric radiant heating, is investigated as an extension of prior work done by the authors involving single-component droplets. Acetone/octane and acetone/hexane mixtures (50/50 by volume) are used to explore bicomponent droplet phenomena within the context of asymmetric radiant heating. Planar laser-induced fluorescence images yield acetone vapor molar fraction contour plots, which reveal details of the asymmetries in the vapor distribution. Subsequent analysis of these contour plots leads to conclusions as to the influences of droplet size, droplet component properties, radiant heating temperature, and exposure time based on the characteristics of the vaporization process, including the apparent induction of Stefan flows above the droplet surface. Such phenomena have relevance to the overall fuel vaporization process as well as subsequent ignition and pollutant formation processes.

Keywords:

• Asymmetric heating
• Droplet vaporization
• PLIF
• Radiation absorption

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant # CTS-0346297. The authors also thank Dr. D. Keefe from Cape Breton University and Dr. J. Bertie from the University of Alberta for graciously providing the refractive index spectra.