Numerical investigation on spray self-pulsation characteristics of a liquid-centered swirl coaxial injector

Self-pulsation characteristics of a liquid-centered swirl coaxial (LCSC) injector are investigated numerically based on the coupled volume of fluid VOF and Level Set (CLSVOF) model. Good agreements of simulation results and experiment data, in aspect for self-pulsation frequency and spray angle, are generally achieved. On the basis of the flow dynamics of the injector, mechanism of spay self-pulsation in recessed LCSC injector is proposed. The self-pulsation arises from the periodic blocking of annular gas by the liquid sheet. Self-pulsated “Christmas tree” spray patterns result from the periodic vortex rings generating and shedding around the liquid sheet. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that the self-pulsation frequency is almost the same as the frequency of the liquid sheet impacting the recess chamber wall, and the model may be able to predict the self-pulsation frequency. Pressure oscillation inside the air-core is closely related to the primary breakup of the liquid sheet, and the frequency is consistent with the self-pulsation frequency. Effects of the gas-liquid mass flow rate ratio (GLR) on the self-pulsation frequency and pressure oscillation frequency inside the air-core are negligible. The self-pulsation intensity peaks under conditions with the critical mixing flow pattern, while, the pressure oscillation intensity inside the air-core increases with the elevating of GLR. It seems that the spray self-pulsation could improve the spray angle.