Soot and Temperature Measurement in Diesel Sprays

Production of soot in high pressure diesel sprays is known to be dependent on combustion chamber temperature and pressure. To a lesser extent, the injector type and injection pressure also influence soot formation. In real engines, separating the individual role of these parameters is difficult as they are closely coupled. Here we present an optically based method to measure both temperature and soot in a diesel spray injected into a high pressure constant volume vessel which is used to simulate engine like conditions. Once fully developed, this system will be used to investigate the sooting tendencies of a range of alternative fuels.