In the present study, liquid-fuel droplet vaporization and combustion in high pressure environments has been investigated. Thermophysical properties are expressed as functions of temperature, pressure, and composition. And, finite-rate chemical kinetics is used. Phase equilibrium at droplet surface is calculated using Redlich-Kwong equation of state. The gas solubility into the droplet is considered.
The results indicate that ambient pressure have a significant influence on droplet gasification rate and flame temperature. The gas solubility increases with ambient pressure. As the ambient pressure is higher, the droplet surface temperature becomes higher. In case of vaporization, when the ambient temperature is high, droplet lifetime decreased with the ambient pressure. When ambient temperature is low, however, droplet lifetime increased with the ambient pressure. In case of combustion, as the ambient pressure is higher, the maximum flame temperature becomes higher. However, the flame temperature history is fully transient. When ambient pressure increased with time, droplet surface temperature and maximum flame temperature varied with time more significantly.
