Simulation of the Break-Up of a Liquid Jet in Crossflow at Atmospheric Conditions

Abstract

The break-up of a liquid jet in crossflowing air-stream has been numerically simulated at atmospheric pressure and temperature conditions using a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The break-up model simulates the effects of jet bending, flattening and penetration prior to column fracture, droplet secondary break-up due to aerodynamic forces, changes in droplet drag due to distortion, and droplet dispersion due to gas phase turbulence and break-up process. Results from the calculations are compared with the PDI (Phase Doppler Interfometry) measured near-field data (e.g., volumetric flux, droplet size, velocity etc.) for different momentum flux ratios, orifice sizes and crossflow velocities. The agreement between computed results and measured data is generally good, considering the complex physics involved in the atomization process and the interaction between the liquid jet and air.