Three dimensional numerical modeling of liquid fuel sprays

TLDR: In this paper, a numerical solution for the spray equation has been developed for thin sprays injected into a type of stratified charge internal combustion chamber, which can treat general three dimensional geometries, using a statistical approach.

Abstract: A numerical solution technique has been developed for the spray equation and has been applied to thin sprays injected into a type of stratified charge internal combustion chamber. The difference equation method can treat general three dimensional geometries, using a statistical approach. The effects of independent variations of a large number of system parameters was studied, including initial spray dispersion, amount and type of gas swirl, gas density, injection timing, chamber geometry, initial droplet size distribution, injection velocity, drag coefficient of injection. It was found that in the particular geometry chosen the gas swirl, the droplet size distribution produced by the injector, and the chamber gas density into which the spray is injected are the most important factors influencing the spray motion and vaporization. Although the calculations reported here applied to internal combustion engine conditions, the general method is applicable to other spray-injected combustors, including stationary combustors and rocket motors. Results from calculations indicate that the technique, used in coordination with selected laboratory measurements, could significantly enhance spray-injected combustor design efforts.