Diesel spray CFD simulations based on the sigma-Y eulerian atomization model

Abstract

[EN] This work presents an implementation and evaluation of the Sigma-Y atomization model for Diesel spray CFD simulations. The Sigma-Y model is based on an Eulerian representation of the spray atomization and dispersion by means of a single-fluid variable density turbulent flow within a RANS framework. The locally homogeneous flow approach has been applied in order to develop a spray vaporization model based on state relationships. A finite-volume solver for model equations has been created using the OpenFOAM CFD open-source C++ library. Model predictions have been compared to experimental data from free Diesel sprays under nonvaporizing and vaporizing conditions. High-speed imaging, PDPA, and Rayleigh-scattering measurements have been used in order to assess the CFD model. Accurate predictions of liquid and vapor spray penetration, as well as axial velocity and mixture fraction profiles, can be simultaneously achieved for a wide range of injection pressure and ambient conditions, despite only having qualitatively correct predictions of droplet size. The success of these predictions supports the mixing-limited vaporization hypothesis. Model accuracy is better for high ambient density and injection pressure conditions. It is proposed that under low ambient density and injection pressure conditions, interfacial dynamics become more important and the single velocity field assumption is less appropriate.