Numerical Investigations of Jet A Hexane Binary Fuel Droplet Impact on a Heated Solid Surface

Abstract

In the present work, Jet A-Hexane binary fuel droplet impact dynamics on heated solid surfaces were studied numerically. This study is crucial for practical applications such as fuel injection in combustors and thermal management of engine components. Volume of fluid (VOF) method was used to analyse the impact dynamics, spreading behaviour, vaporisation, and heat transfer of n-hexane and Jet-A blended fuel droplets on heated stainless-steel surfaces. Droplet impact dynamics were investigated for two Weber numbers, i.e., 25 and 50, and surface temperatures ranging from 50C to 227C to capture transitions from gentle spreading to nucleate boiling and rebound phenomena. This work examines how fuel blending influences inertia, lamella formation, vapour recoil, and film boiling regimes. The results show that higher inertia in blended fuels enhances spreading but also triggers stronger vapour recoil at elevated temperatures, leading to droplet rebound. In contrast, pure hexane transitions to a stable film boiling regime at high surface temperatures, resulting in a decline in smoother heat flux. New correlations were developed linking Weber number, spreading ratio, and wall heat flux, offering predictive insights for real-world combustion scenarios. These findings advance the understanding of bi-component fuel droplet impacts on heated surfaces and provide a framework for designing efficient spray systems in combustors and thermal management in propulsion and power generation applications.