The Engine Combustion Network (ECN) community has greatly contributed to improve the fundamental understanding of spray atomization and combustion at conditions relevant to internal combustion engines. In this context, standardized spray experiments have been defined to facilitate the comparison of experimental and simulation studies performed in different facilities and with different models. This operating mode promotes collaborations among research groups and accelerates the advancement of research on spray. In efforts to improve the comparability of the ECN spray A experiments, it is of high importance to review the boundary conditions of different devices used in the community. This work is issued from the collaboration in the ECN France project, where two new experimental facilities from PPRIME (Poitiers) and PRISME (Orleans) institutes are validated to perform spray A experiments. The two facilities, based on Rapid Compression Machine (RCM) design, have been investigated to characterize their boundary conditions (e.g., flow velocity as well as fuel and gas temperatures). A set of standardized spray experiments were performed to compare their results with those obtained in other facilities, in particular the Constant Volume Pre-burn (CVP) vessel at IFPEN. It is noteworthy that it is the first time that RCM type facilities are used in such a way within the ECN. This paper (part 1) focuses on the facilities description and the fine characterization of their boundary conditions. A further paper (part 2) will present the results obtained with the same facilities performing ECN standard spray A characterizations. The reported review of thermocouple thermometry highlights that it is necessary to use thin-wires and bare-bead junction as small as possible. This would help to measure the temperature fluctuations with a minimal need for error corrections, which are highly dependent on the proper estimation of the velocity through the junction, and therefore it may introduce important uncertainties. Temperature heterogeneities are observed in all spray A devices. The standard deviation of the temperature distribution at the time of injection is approximately 5%. We report time-resolved temperature measurement from PPRIME RCM, performed in the near nozzle area during the injection. In inert condition, colder gases from the boundary layer are entrained toward the mixing area of the spray causing a further deviation from the target temperature. This emphasizes the importance of the temperature in the boundary (wall) layer. In reacting condition, the temperature of these entrained gases increases by the effect of the increased pressure, as the RCM has a relatively small volume. Generally, the velocity and turbulence levels are an order of magnitude higher in RCM and constant pressure flow compared to CVP vessels. The boundary characterization presented here will be the base for discussing spray behavior in the part 2 of this paper.

One of the objective of Engine Combustion Network (ECN), (https://ecn.sandia.gov/) is to provide experimental results with high accuracy in order to validate model and reach new steps in scientific understanding of spray combustion at conditions specific to engines. The ECN community defines different target conditions, experimental diagnostics and post processing methods to facilitate the comparison of experimental and simulations studies performed in different facilities or models. In this context two French laboratories propose two new facilities, based on Rapid Compression Machines to reach the ECN spray A conditions. In this paper, the results of liquid and vapour spray penetration as well as Ignition Delay (ID) and Lift-Off Length (LOL) obtained with these Rapid Compression Machines are compared to the results obtained in the Constant Volume Preburn (CVP) vessel of IFPEN. The specificities of each experimental apparatus allow to bring complementary elements of understanding like confinement effects. In non-reactive condition, the liquid and vapour sprays were characterized by Diffused-Back Illumination and Schlieren technique, and in reactive conditions, the LOL and the ID by OH* chemiluminescence. The analysis of the results with regard to the boundary conditions (temperature, velocity, confinement) make it possible to validate these two new facilities and contribute to enhance the database of ECN, highlighting the confinement effect typical of piston engine operation.

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