Numerical simulation of injection spray in a small D.I. diesel engine: A comparison of dimethyl ether and diesel fuel

This study focuses on the spray behaviors of DME (dimethyl ether) in a small D.I. diesel engine, and herein investigated are the spray characteristics of DME and its interaction with the gas flow field. We attempt to understand how the DME spray interacts with the gas flow field in a small D.I. diesel engine's combustion chamber with the KIVA-3 CFD code, and then compare it to the spray behaviors of diesel fuel. We have successfully simulated the injection spray of a small D.I. diesel engine with DME and diesel fuel, and we have obtained data from analyzing the spray droplet development, gas density distribution, gas temperature distribution, and flow field in the combustion chamber. The results shed light on the different spray behaviors of DME and diesel fuel.