Development of a compressible multiphase cavitation approach for diesel spray modelling

The influence of in-nozzle phenomena including cavitation on the morphology of the spray from a diesel injector with a sharp nozzle inlet is investigated numerically. A compressible, multi-phase Volume of Fluid Large Eddy Simulation is implemented in the OpenFOAM environment. The volume fraction transport equations for liquid and gas phases are reformulated to include mass transfer source terms. These source terms are modelled with two cavitation models by Schnerr and Kunz, which are extended to eliminate non-physical mass transfer rates. Validation is carried out only for the Schnerr cavitation model due to its independence of empirical parameters. The numerical method is validated by comparing the simulated mass flow rates, pressure and velocity profiles at different cavitation conditions against published experimental data obtained using a slightly converging square channel. Favourable comparison between simulations and experiments is achieved with minor discrepancies attributable to uncertainties in fuel properties, experimental artefacts and assumptions made in numerical models. Application of the method to calculation of in-nozzle phenomena and primary breakup of a diesel spray reveals that in-nozzle flow separation, wall shear and cavitation contribute greatly to the fragmentation of the jet. Comparison of the two cavitation models shows that after the onset of complete flow detachment, the Kunz implementation predicts higher air inflow at the nozzle outlet than the Schnerr model.