Numerical Modelling of Droplet Breakup for Flash-Boiling Fuel Spray Predictions
File(s)CPrice_Multiphase_Flow_Deposit.pdf (7.95 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Price, Christopher
Hamzehloo, Arash
Aleiferis, Pavlos
Richardson, David
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Flash-boiling of fuel sprays can occur under injection of superheated fuel into ambient pressure that is lower than the saturation pressure of the fuel and can dramatically alter spray formation due to complex two-phase flow effects and rapid droplet evaporation phenomena. Such phenomena exist in-cylinder at low-load in-city driving conditions where strict engine emission regulations apply, hence the need for faithful flash-boiling fuel spray models by engine designers. To enhance the current modelling capability of superheated fuel sprays, with focus on near-nozzle plume expansion, a flash-boiling breakup modelling approach was developed to introduce the thermal breakup mechanism of droplets caused by nucleation and bubble growth. This model was particularly aimed at sprays where levels of superheat introduced noticeable radial expansion of the plumes upon discharge from the nozzle orifice. The model was able to simulate droplet shattering by introducing Lagrangian child parcels at breakup sites with additional radial velocity components instigated by rapid bubble growth and surface instabilities. Combination of the flash-boiling droplet breakup model with a flash-boiling effective nozzle model that was used as boundary condition for the spray plumes offered a more complete modelling approach, where both in-nozzle phase change effects and near-nozzle flashing through droplet shattering were incorporated into the Eulerian-Lagrangian two-phase computational framework. Sensitivity studies were carried out to investigate important parameters which are inherently difficult to measure experimentally and offered valuable insight into modelling superheated sprays. The model was able to capture important flash-boiling spray characteristics and quantitative validation was achieved through comparison to experimental data in the form of penetration lengths and droplet sizes with a good level of agreement.
Date Issued
2020-04
Date Acceptance
2019-12-06
Citation
International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 2020, 125
ISSN
0301-9322
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Multiphase Flow
Volume
125
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/M009424/1 - R1696
Subjects
09 Engineering
Mechanical Engineering & Transports
Publication Status
Published online
Article Number
103183
Date Publish Online
2019-12-31