Device and method for injecting fuels into compressed gaseous media

A method for operating a fuel injector for atomization of the fuel, the fuel injector having a cylindrical hollow body having an outlet port, the outlet opening forming an atomization edge, the body defining an interior swirl chamber having an axial flow direction leading to the outlet port, the swirl chamber having a cone-shaped portion narrowing toward the outlet port, the body further defining an air duct with a mouth connecting to an upstream end of the swirl chamber, the body defining at least one fuel feed passage to guide fuel into the body and at least one inlet opening leading laterally from the at least one fuel feed passage to the swirl chamber downstream of the mouth, and the body having a dividing wall extending axially downstream from the mouth at least to a center of the at least one inlet opening, the method comprising the steps of:

• feeding fuel through the inlet opening into the swirl chamber, wherein a swirling film flow of fuel is produced on a surface of the swirl chamber;
• and
• introducing atomization air from the air duct into the swirl chamber;
• wherein, the fuel film upon reaching the atomization edge is broken into droplets, and wherein the atomization air applies additional shear forces to the fuel film and assists the break-up of the fuel into droplets.