Numerical investigation of the unstable wave on a planar liquid sheet produced byan air-blast atomizer

Hua Zhou, Chia Fon F. Lee, Timothy H. Lee

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The unstable surface wave on a liquid sheet produced by an air-blast atomizer during primary breakup process was investigated by numerical simulation. The results of simulation were verified by comparison of primary breakup time and breakup length with accessible experimental data reported in technical papers. The frequency characteristics of stream-wise unstable wave at different axial locations were investigated by applying Discrete Fourier Transform (OFT). It was found that when there is no disturbance induced by internal flow, there is no specific frequency which is favored by shear instability near the nozzle exit, and the characteristic frequency of the dominant wave decreases along stream-wise direction due to the decrease of relative velocity. By applying Discrete Particle Method (OPM), the motion of fluid particles inside the liquid sheet was able to be tracked, and the Lagrangian characteristics of fluid particles can be partially revealed. The growth of stream-wise unstable wave was found to possess strong spatial characteristics by investigating the pathlines and streaklines of fluid particles. A rough evaluation for the stream-wise speed of fluid particles and the propagation velocity of unstable wave showed that fluid particles move faster than unstable wave in stream-wise direction, thus, relative motion exists between fluid particles and stream-wise wave. This relative motion could lead to huge acceleration of fluid particles, which could trigger Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability to induce transverse disintegration. Some complex behaviors of fluid particles inside the liquid sheet were observed, e.g. eddy-like structures formed by fluid particles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInstrumentation, Controls, and Hybrids; Numerical Simulation; Engine Design and Mechanical Development; Keynote Papers
PublisherWeb Portal ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791846179
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes
EventASME 2014 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, ICEF 2014 - Columbus, United States
Duration: Oct 19 2014Oct 22 2014

Publication series

NameASME 2014 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, ICEF 2014
Volume2

Other

OtherASME 2014 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, ICEF 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityColumbus
Period10/19/1410/22/14

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Fuel Technology
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

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