Apparatus and method for determining luminosity of hydrocarbon fuels
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorsGary J. Green, Tsoung Y. Yan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is apparatus comprising a means for injecting a controlled stream of hydrocarbon liquid into a concurrently flowing stream of gas in a Venturi forming droplets. Droplets are subsequently combusted in a gas stream. The level of radient emissions is measured photoelectrically. Results obtained are useful in predicting service life of combustor walls in jet engines and the like.
Claims17
A method for determining the quality of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel by measuring its luminosity comprising:
- (a) introducing a downflowing stream of linearly spaced droplets of said hydrocarbon fuel into a combustion zone;
- (b) combusting said stream of droplets in said combustion zone;
- and
- (c) measuring the intensity of the radiation emitted by said stream of droplets during said combustion.
A method for determining the luminosity of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising:
- (a) introducing a downflowing stream of linearly spaced droplets of said liquid fuel into a downflowing moving stream of heated oxidizing gases;
- (b) at least partially combusting said stream of droplets;
- and
- (c) measuring the intensity of the radiation from said combusting stream of droplets at a plurality of locations in said stream.
A device for measuring the luminosity of a burning hydrocarbon liquid fuel comprising:
- (a) a venturi positioned at or near the upper end of a transparent tubular member;
- (b) a capillary tube having an open end positioned near the throat of said venturi;
- (c) means for injecting a stream of liquid hydrocarbon from said capillary tube into said venturi and thence into said tubular member;
- (d) means for injecting a stream of gas into the space defined between said venturi tube and said capillary tube, thereby forming a series of droplets of hydrocarbon liquid;
- (e) means at or near the top of said tubular member for burning in the presence of excess oxygen a combustible gas and for igniting said droplets of hydrocarbon liquid;
- and
- (f) means for measuring the luminosity of said burning droplets of hydrocarbon fuel as they flow through said tubular member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.