Temperature measurements of the gas-phase during surrogate diesel injection using two-color toluene LIF

Planar laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) of toluene has been applied in an optical engine and a high-pressure cell, to determine temperatures of fuel sprays and in-cylinder vapors. The method relies on a redshift of the toluene LIF emission spectrum with increasing temperature. Toluene fluorescence is recorded simultaneously in two disjunct wavelength bands by a two-camera setup. After calibration, the pixel-by-pixel LIF signal ratio is a proxy for the local temperature. A detailed measurement procedure is presented to minimize measurement inaccuracies and to improve precision. n-Heptane is used as the base fuel and 10 % of toluene is added as a tracer. The toluene LIF method is capable of measuring temperatures up to 700 K; above that the signal becomes too weak. The precision of the spray temperature measurements is 4 % and the spatial resolution 1.3 mm. We pay particular attention to the construction of the calibration curve that is required to translate LIF signal ratios into temperature, and to possible limitations in the portability of this curve between different setups. The engine results are compared to those obtained in a constant-volume high-pressure cell, and the fuel spray results obtained in the high-pressure cell are also compared to LES simulations. We find that the hot ambient gas entrained by the head vortex gives rise to a hot zone on the spray axis.