The physics associated with fuel injection encompasses the dynamics of two-phase flows, thermal processes related to vaporization, turbulence in both liquid and gas phases, fuel-air mixing, and finally, combustion. With respects to active/current areas of spray research, the ERC is utilizing high-fidelity simulations to provide an unprecedented and detailed view of the spray formation process beginning with flow inside the nozzle, atomization of the issuing liquid jet, and the formation of droplets. These simulations are advancing our understanding of the spray and are providing needed information for significantly improving the physical-predictive nature of future low-order models, such as RANS and LES.
Spray Research
Impact of Internal Flow on Atomization
Mean (not fluctuating) vorticity field structure corresponding to the ECN Spray A geometry at the orifice opening displays the presence of coherent flow structures characterizing the exiting flow.
New Modeling Approaches
A current initiative being implemented and tested is the combination of a high-fidelity treatment via Volume-of-Fluid (VoF) and the traditional Lagrangian-Eulerian approach.
