System and method for spray visualization

A system for visualizing a spray, comprising:

• a means for injecting a mixture of a hydrocarbon fuel and a fluorescent compound into a hollow flow tube having at least one surface material capable of absorbing the fuel and the fluorescent compound, the at least one surface material being positioned cross-flow to a base flow in the hollow flow tube;
• a means for collecting flow droplets on the at least one surface material that is configured to non-attenuate the flow and be porous to the base flow, but the at least one surface material is capable of absorbing a flow component comprising the fluorescent compound mixed with the hydrocarbon fuel and an engine exhaust in the hollow flow tube;
• a means for rigidly holding the at least one surface material in the cross-flow position during the collection of flow droplets on the at least one surface material;
• a means for photographing and scanning the at least one surface material for an image of at least one droplet pattern residing on the at least one surface material using an ultraviolet light scanning device;
• a means for converting the image of at least one droplet pattern into a digitized image of the at least one droplet pattern;
• and
• a means for analyzing the digitized image of at least one droplet pattern for droplet properties, including size, position, amount and uniformity index.

An apparatus for visualizing a spray, comprising:

• a hollow flow tube having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to attach in-line to an automobile exhaust flow outlet while the second end includes an opening;
• an injector device coupled to the hollow flow tube and positioned in between the first end and the second end of the hollow flow tube, the injector device being capable of injecting a mixture of fuel spray and a fluorescent additive compound into the hollow flow tube carrying the exhaust base flow;
• and
• at least one membrane surface material substantially positioned cross-flow in the hollow flow tube carrying the exhaust flow, the membrane being further positioned between the first end and the second end of the flow tube but positioned distally downstream of the injector flow, the at least one membrane surface material comprising at least one material capable of absorbing and retaining a fluorescent compound and material that has been added to the flow, the at least one membrane surface material further being non-attenuating and porous to the flow.