A numerical strategy for investigating internal circulation in droplets

Abstract

The current study uses numerical methods to investigate the effect of internal circulation on droplet dynamics. In jet atomization simulations, tracking all droplets is computationally expensive. A common way to reduce the computational expense is to use a Lagrangian approach to represent small droplets. To better model these droplets in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, the underlying physics of their behavior needs to be better understood. In such environments, droplet shape and internal circulation should be considered.

To study how droplet shape and internal circulation influence droplet dynamics, we will use direct numerical simulation (DNS) to simulate a droplet falling at its terminal velocity in high-temperature, high-pressure air. An in-house code developed for interface-capturing DNS of multiphase flows will be used for the computation.