Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditions

Cavitation plays a crucial role in various fuel systems and spray applications. Due to the limitation in experimentally measuring the cavitation flow in fuel nozzles, numerical simulations can be used as an alternative in exploring the underlying physics. Most of the previous simulations of cavitati...

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Main Authors: Huashi Xu, Tianyou Wang, Zhizhao Che
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2022-05-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0089755
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author Huashi Xu
Tianyou Wang
Zhizhao Che
author_facet Huashi Xu
Tianyou Wang
Zhizhao Che
author_sort Huashi Xu
collection DOAJ
description Cavitation plays a crucial role in various fuel systems and spray applications. Due to the limitation in experimentally measuring the cavitation flow in fuel nozzles, numerical simulations can be used as an alternative in exploring the underlying physics. Most of the previous simulations of cavitation flow in nozzles were carried out under isothermal conditions, which become invalid when the thermal effect is strong. In this study, we use OpenFOAM and a modified cavitation model to investigate the influence of thermal effect on fuel nozzle flow characteristics under cavitation and flash boiling conditions. The comparison with experimental data shows that the modified cavitation model can predict well the cavitation flow in nozzles. Vaporization caused by cavitation at the nozzle throat and vaporization caused by the flash boiling near the outlet are simulated under different conditions. Phenomena such as mass flow reduction, outlet velocity blockage, and the transition from cavitation flow to flash boiling flow are well predicted. Further results show that with the increase in the inlet fuel temperature, the cavitation at the throat and flash boiling at the outlet occur gradually and then mix under high-temperature conditions. With the decrease in the ambient pressure, the flow in the nozzle gradually transits from single-phase flow to cavitation flow and then to flash-boiling flow. Increasing the injection pressure can inhibit the generation and the growth of superheated vapor near the nozzle outlet.
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spelling doaj.art-96afa5de50614d5ea95c28e7ecfb0dca2022-12-22T03:26:41ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262022-05-01125055218055218-1210.1063/5.0089755Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditionsHuashi Xu0Tianyou Wang1Zhizhao Che2State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaCavitation plays a crucial role in various fuel systems and spray applications. Due to the limitation in experimentally measuring the cavitation flow in fuel nozzles, numerical simulations can be used as an alternative in exploring the underlying physics. Most of the previous simulations of cavitation flow in nozzles were carried out under isothermal conditions, which become invalid when the thermal effect is strong. In this study, we use OpenFOAM and a modified cavitation model to investigate the influence of thermal effect on fuel nozzle flow characteristics under cavitation and flash boiling conditions. The comparison with experimental data shows that the modified cavitation model can predict well the cavitation flow in nozzles. Vaporization caused by cavitation at the nozzle throat and vaporization caused by the flash boiling near the outlet are simulated under different conditions. Phenomena such as mass flow reduction, outlet velocity blockage, and the transition from cavitation flow to flash boiling flow are well predicted. Further results show that with the increase in the inlet fuel temperature, the cavitation at the throat and flash boiling at the outlet occur gradually and then mix under high-temperature conditions. With the decrease in the ambient pressure, the flow in the nozzle gradually transits from single-phase flow to cavitation flow and then to flash-boiling flow. Increasing the injection pressure can inhibit the generation and the growth of superheated vapor near the nozzle outlet.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0089755
spellingShingle Huashi Xu
Tianyou Wang
Zhizhao Che
Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditions
AIP Advances
title Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditions
title_full Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditions
title_fullStr Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditions
title_full_unstemmed Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditions
title_short Flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash-boiling conditions
title_sort flow in fuel nozzles under cavitation and flash boiling conditions
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0089755
work_keys_str_mv AT huashixu flowinfuelnozzlesundercavitationandflashboilingconditions
AT tianyouwang flowinfuelnozzlesundercavitationandflashboilingconditions
AT zhizhaoche flowinfuelnozzlesundercavitationandflashboilingconditions