Reducing Fuel Evaporation Using Floating Objects

Abstract

A numerical investigation of the evaporation and mixing inside two fuel tank designs held at a constant pressure while varying the inlet speed. The cubic fuel tank is filled halfway with water while air is injected at a constant speed through a circular inlet, keeping the pressure inside the tank constant. The effect of adding floating objects on the water surface was investigated. It is found that the volume flow rate of water vapor decreases for inlet speeds less than Re = 340 and increases for speeds greater than Re = 340 for horizontal inlet flow. Adding floating objects to the water surface affected the volume flow rate and volume concentration of water vapor with dependencies on the shape and placement of the objects and the inlet speed.