Experimental study on spray characteristics of fan nozzle for integrated afterburner in lateral airflow

The spatial distribution of fuel and high atomization quality plays a vital role in combustion performance enhancement for integrated afterburners. This study is based on integrated strut stabilizers using aviation kerosene (RP-3) as the atomizing medium. Specifically, the spray distribution characteristics of the fan nozzle were studied at ambient temperature and pressure, lateral airflow velocities within the range of 5-30 m/s, and a fuel supply pressure difference between 0.2 and 1.2 MPa. Macroscopic and microscopic spray characteristics were studied by high-speed photography method, Spraymaster, and ParticleMaster system respectively. The results show that mean droplet diameters decreased with an increasing lateral airflow velocity and a decreasing fuel supply pressure difference. The recirculation zone at the back of the struts will have an entrainment effect on the downstream of the spray, making part of the spray bend toward the recirculation zone. The results of the spray organization of a fan nozzle in this study can be used to support the design of new integrated afterburners.(c) 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.