A Model for the Autoignition of Single Liquid Droplets at High Pressure

Abstract
A numerical model for the auto-ignition of single droplets of liquid hydrocarbons at high pressures is presented, which solves the governing equations by finite difference techniques and uses the Peng-Robinson equation of state to describe vapour-liquid equilibrium at the droplet surface. Ignition delay times are found to decrease substantially at high pressures, but no fundamental changes in the phenomena of ignition are observed either for pure fuels or two-component mixtures. The effects of liquid phase transport of absorbed air on the ignition delay time are found to be negligible.