Abstract This study presents a numerical analysis of the influence of physical fuel properties on the spray-wall interaction (SWI) characteristics in gasoline direct injection (GDI) systems. A validated SWI model under the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray ‘G’ condition was developed in CONVERGE software. Following validation, the effects of substituting isooctane fuel properties, specifically viscosity, surface tension, density, and latent heat of vaporization, with those of ethanol, on the impingement characteristics were analyzed in both the liquid and vapor phases. The combined effects of all physical properties, meaning the complete replacement of isooctane with ethanol, on the SWI characteristics were also examined in both the liquid and vapor phases. The results indicate that substituting isooctane viscosity, surface tension, and latent heat of vaporization with those of ethanol has a minimal impact on the horizontal and vertical spread in the liquid and vapor phases. However, substituting isooctane density with ethanol’s density and pure ethanol results in significant changes in the horizontal and vertical spread in the liquid and vapor phases. However, replacing the latent heat of vaporization of isooctane with that of ethanol resulted in a noticeable increase in film thickness. Complete substitution of isooctane fuel with ethanol results in no film thickness formation on the wall.
Dolui et al. (Tue,) studied this question.