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This work presents detailed two-phase flow simulations of liquid–liquid bi-swirl injectors for engineering applications. Liquid oxygen and kerosene are delivered into the injector, which is initially filled with air. A parametric study is conducted on the recess length of the inner tube to investigate its effect on the flow dynamics and spray pattern. The simulations are performed using an improved multiphase flow solver in OpenFOAM, which employs the volume-of-fluid approach for interface tracking and the large-eddy simulation technique for turbulence modeling. Detailed flow dynamics of both fuel and oxidizer, along with their spray patterns, are examined systematically. A comprehensive account is provided on the impact of the recess length on flow evolution, including the film thickness, air core diameter, and spray cone angle. Spectral and dynamic mode decomposition analyses are performed to further examine the flow structures and dynamics. Results from this study can be effectively used to facilitate the design optimization of injectors for liquid-fueled propulsion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3D multiphase flow simulation of open type swirl injector using OpenFOAM. • Simulation details flow field inside and outside the injector. • Liquid film, air core, spray cone, liquid sheet breakup is noticed and discussed. • Spectral analysis done to study the injector flow dynamics. The three-dimensional, two-phase flow dynamics and underlying physics in an open-type liquid swirl injector are investigated using numerical simulations. The basis for this study is a validated multiphase flow solver, interFoam, in OpenFOAM. Turbulence closure is achieved by means of LES with a one-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence model. A volume-of-fluid method is used for tracking the interface between the gas and liquid phases. The detailed spatio-temporal evolution of the flow field is explored systematically, including the liquid surface wave motion and liquid film characteristics within the injector, the helical air core, and the formation and atomization of the liquid spray cone downstream of the injector. The spectral content of the pressure field is also examined, to reveal the characteristic frequencies and feedback mechanisms of gas-liquid interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]