Modelling of diesel spray dynamics using LES

A non-evaporating high pressure spray of diesel fuel in a pressurised spray chamber is modelled using the CFD code StarCD. Large eddy simulation is used in conjunction with a Lagrangian model for the dispersed phase. Simulations are compared with data on spray penetration, spray width and droplet diameter from an optically accessible instrumented spray chamber. Spray penetration and width as well as droplet diameter are moderately well simulated. It is postulated that the most significant limitation regarding the ability to model real spray behaviour is the restriction on minimum cell size near the nozzle, inherent in the Lagrangian approach.