Ignition of Kerosine Fuel Sprays in a Flowing Air Stream

The ignition of kerosine fuel sprays in a flowing air stream was studied experimentally. Ignition was accomplished using electrical sparks whose energy level could be varied in steps between 19.3 and 130 millijoules. Tests were carried out at air velocities up to 46 metres/second on five simplex swirl atomizers designed to produce fuel drops ranging from 30 to 120 microns in diameter. The results obtained show that minimum ignition energy is strongly dependent on both air velocity and fuel drop size. Their implication to the designer of combustion equipment is that significant reductions in the size and weight of ignition systems could be achieved by improvements in fuel atomization and by local reduction of air velocity in the ignition zone.