Reduction of NOx-emission of liquid fuel consuming engines requires detailed knowledge about autoignition properties of diesel and kerosene exposed to a high temperature environment at elevated pressure. Microgravity is an ideal tool for investigating the autoignition process as it enables the observation of all preignition processes of relatively large suspended droplets, free of natural convection.

The microgravity experiments serve for validation of numerical simulations of the observed processes. Agreement assumed, these simulations then allow for downscaling to technically sized droplets.

Experiments in microgravity are performed inside a high pressure vessel. After release of the drop capsule, the suspended droplet is rapidly lifted into the isostatic furnace.

The related projects are supported by the German Aerospace Center, DLR and the European Space Agency, ESA