The balance between surface and kinetic energies within an optimal micro-explosion


Tarlet D., Allouis C. G., Bellettre J.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCES, vol.107, pp.179-183, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 107
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2016.04.008
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.179-183
  • Keywords: Micro-explosion, Emulsion, Mechanical energy, IN-OIL EMULSION, FUEL DROPLETS, WATER, COMBUSTION
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Micro-explosion is caused by the sudden vaporization of water drops inside water-in-oil emulsion. Past studies have shown an optimal diameter for dispersed water. This optimal micro-explosion produces the largest number of secondary droplets, i.e. the largest interfacial area among the resulting spray. Such an increase in the interfacial area within the spray causes a better and less polluting combustion process. By using an infra-red camera, the present experiments can measure the size and planar velocity of secondary droplets issued from an optimal and also a non-optimal emulsion. The distributions of kinetic energy and surface energy among the spray are then calculated and discussed. Among the secondary droplets, it results that the optimal micro-explosion favors surface energy over kinetic energy. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.