Digital imaging based analysis and characterization of diesel sprays

This paper presents the recent progress in the development of digital imaging and image processing techniques for the quantitative characterisation of diesel sprays. An optically accessible, constant volume chamber was configured to allow photographic imaging of sprays, which were generated from a six-hole nozzle in a non-evaporating and pressurized environment. A high-resolution CCD camera and a flash light source were used to capture the spray images. Dedicated digital image processing algorithms have been developed to quantify the fundamental, characteristic parameters of the sprays. An application of the algorithms to the characterisation of diesel sprays from a VCO nozzle is also presented and discussed.