Large Eddy Simulation of Vaporizing Sprays Considering Multi-Injection Averaging and Grid-Convergent Mesh Resolution

A state-of-the-art spray modeling methodology, recently presented by Senecal et al. (2012, “Grid Convergent Spray Models for Internal Combustion Engine CFD Simulations,” Proceedings of the ASME 2012 Internal Combustion Engine Division Fall Technical Conference, Vancouver, Canada, Paper No. ICEF2012-92043; 2013 “An Investigation of Grid Convergence for Spray Simulations using an LES Turbulence Model,” Paper No. SAE 2013-01-1083) is applied to large eddy simulations (LES) of vaporizing sprays. Simulations of noncombusting Spray A (n-dodecane fuel) from the engine combustion network are performed. An adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) cell size of 0.0625 mm is utilized based on the accuracy/runtime tradeoff demonstrated by Senecal et al. (2013, “An Investigation of Grid Convergence for Spray Simulations using an LES Turbulence Model,” Paper No. SAE 2013-01-1083). In that work, it was shown that grid convergence of key parameters for nonevaporating and evaporating sprays was achieved for cell sizes between 0.0625 and 0.125 mm using the dynamic structure LES model. The current work presents an extended and more thorough investigation of Spray A using multidimensional spray modeling and the dynamic structure LES model. Twenty different realizations are simulated by changing the random number seed used in the spray submodels. Multirealization (ensemble) averaging is shown to be necessary when comparing to local spray measurements of quantities such as mixture fraction and gas-phase velocity. Through a detailed analysis, recommendations are made regarding the minimum number of LES realizations required for accurate prediction of diesel sprays. Finally, the effect of a spray primary breakup model constant on the results is assessed.