Abstract
Dimethyl Ether (DME) has been considered as one of the most attractive alternative fuels for a compression ignition engine. The major advantage of DME-fuelled engine is a great potential for soot-free combustion without sacrificing an inherent high thermal efficiency of diesel engine, despite a necessity for modification of the conventional fuel injection system. An experimental study on DME and conventional diesel sprays was conducted by employing a common-rail type fuel injection system with a 5-holes sac type nozzle, including a constant volume vessel pressurized with nitrogen gas. The injection rates of DME and diesel fuel were recorded with the Bosch type injection rate meter. The injection delay of DME was shorter than that of diesel fuel. The measured injection rates of DME and diesel fuel were correlated with spray penetrations. The prediction method of spray penetration was established using the injection rates, which was verified with the Dent's penetration model and found to agree well for DME case.
