Coupled VOF and Level-Set methods for simulating nozzle geometry effect on axisymmetric water jet breakup

Abstract

In this work, a numerical investigation of nozzle geometry effect on axisymmetric water jet breakup by coupling the Volume-Of-Fluid (VOF) method with Level-Set (LS) was carried out. Through this coupling, the benefit from the advantages of both approaches in order to get better results is realized. The impact of two nozzle geometries (cone-up and cone-down configurations) on the characteristics of water jets flow downstream of the nozzle has been discussed for pressures below 172 bars. Flow was assumed to be two dimensional, viscous, incompressible, and unsteady. Velocity distributions, turbulence sensitivity, and flow discharge coefficient Cd was examined as a function of Reynolds number and injection pressure. CFD simulations have been validated with the published experimental data of Vahedi et al. and Ghassemieh et al. After simulation, it can be found that the calculated solutions are in good agreement with experiment data. The agreement between the calculations and the experimental data indicates that the model provides a good prediction of the discharge coefficient. The pressure injection and turbulence have a great influence on the velocity profile and the intact length.