System decomposition technique for spray modelling in CFD codes

Abstract A new decomposition technique for a system of ordinary differential equations is suggested, based on the geometrical version of the integral manifold method. This is based on comparing the values of the right hand sides of these equations, leading to the separation of the equations into ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ variables. The hierarchy of the decomposition is allowed to vary with time. Equations for fast variables are solved by a stiff ODE system solver with the slow variables taken at the beginning of the time step. The solution of the equations for the slow variables is presented in a simplified form, assuming linearised variation of these variables for the known time evolution of the fast variables. This can be considered as the first order approximation for the fast manifold. This technique is applied to analyse the explosion of a polydisperse spray of diesel fuel. Clear advantages are demonstrated from the point of view of accuracy and CPU efficiency when compared with the conventional approach widely used in CFD codes. The difference between the solution of the full system of equations and the solution of the decomposed system of equations is shown to be negligibly small for practical applications. It is shown that in some cases the system of fast equations is reduced to a single equation.