Laser light scattering technique in the diagnostics of sprays in isothermal and burning conditions

An attempt is made to illustrate the ways in which laser light scattering methods yield local measurements relevant to the atomization, dispersion and vaporization of fuel sprays, thereby contributing to the understanding of liquid fuel flame stability, structure, and soot formation. An illustration is given of the theoretical analysis of the light scattered by spheres ranging in size from the Rayleigh limit to the geometrical optical limit, with emphasis on the results obtained with the exact Lorenz-Mie theory for light oil droplet clouds produced by both a single fluid pressure nozzle and a two-fluid internal mixing atomizer. Laser light scattering measurements have also been performed on light oil spray flames generated by the same atomizers, with the same air fluid dynamic field, in order to follow the fuel vaporization and soot formation processes.