Effects of in-nozzle liquid fuel vortex cavitation on characteristics of flow and spray: Numerical research

• Published in: International communications in heat and mass transfer 2023-11, Vol.148, p.107040, Article 107040
• Main Authors: Guo, Genmiao, Lu, Kang, Xu, Shuohan, Yuan, Jianping, Bai, Tianyang, Yang, Kang, He, Zhixia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Inlet and back pressure; Nozzle flow; Numerical simulation; Orifice number; Spray; Vortex cavitation
• ISSN: 0735-1933; 1879-0178
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2023.107040

The current work studies the dynamics of vortex cavitation under various conditions, including the pressure and orifice number, and their effects on the nozzle flow and spray characteristics using a modified cavitation model considering the swirling flow. Its validation against experimental data has demonstrated a high precision of the code in terms of vortex cavitation inside the nozzles. The higher the inlet pressure, the higher the mass flow rate and discharge coefficient, but the weaker the vortex cavitation; while the vortex cavitation intensity decreases, the discharge coefficient increases and the mass flow rate is almost constant with increasing back pressure. Moreover, under the influence of vortex cavitation, the primary jet liquid spreading angle, spray penetration, and spray volume coefficient increase first and then decrease with increasing inlet pressure; with an increase of back pressure, however, the primary jet liquid spreading angle increases, the spray penetration vice versa. Additionally, once the inner well-organized large-scale longitudinal vortices are destroyed, the vortex cavitation will not incept, which induces a larger discharge coefficient and spray penetration, but a smaller primary jet liquid spreading angle as a result. The swirling flow in the multi-hole nozzle is inhibited; hence, vortex cavitation is difficult. •Dynamics of internal vortex cavitation and their effects on the nozzle flow and spray characteristics were evaluated.•High-precision prediction of internal vortex cavitation was obtained using a modified cavitation model.•Effects of pressure conditions and orifice number on the vortex cavitation and spray dynamics of the nozzles were studied.