Liquid Atomization Modeling in OpenFOAM$^{\textregistered }$

Abstract

Several approaches have been developed to simulate liquid-jet atomization phenomena. Despite recent developments in numerical methods and computer performance, direct numerical simulation of the atomization process remains inaccessible for practical applications. Therefore, to carry out numerical simulations of the injected liquid from the internal flow within flow as far as the final dispersed spray, a modeling strategy has been developed. It is composed of a set of models implemented within the open-source software $\texttt {OpenFOAM}^{\textregistered }$. First, the so-called Euler–Lagrange Spray Atomization (ELSA) approach is introduced. This is Eulerian formulation dedicated to jet atomization that is based on the analogy of turbulent mixing in a flow with variable density in the limit of infinite Reynolds and Weber numbers. Second, ELSA’s extension to a Quasi-Multiphase Eulerian (QME) approach is proposed. This method solves the problem of a second-order closure in modeling the turbulent liquid flux, hence solving the slip velocity between the phases. Third, an enhanced version of ELSA coupling with an Interface Capturing Method (ICM) and a Lagrangian approach for the final spray are introduced.