Unsteady evaporation and combustion of a drop cluster inside a vortex

Abstract

A model has been developed that describes the evaporation, ignition, and combustion of a drop cluster embedded in a large vortex. The purpose of this model is to simulate the behavior of drops in large coherent vortices produced in the shear layer of a jet. The model treats the dynamic interactions between the drops and the vortex, and also takes into account the drop proximity to calculate the heat and mass transfer between drops and ambient gas. The gas phase outside the cluster is treated as an unsteady, reacting phase, whereas quasi-steadiness is assumed between the drops and surrounding gas inside the cluster. It is assumed that drops will not burn individually, but as a group. The results show a very complex interaction between the dynamics of the drop-loaded vortex, the flame, and the evaporation process. A quasi-steady state is not always reached, depending upon the drop number density or the vortex intensity. In most cases, the flame is located very close to the cluster. The mass ratio of burned fuel (at complete evaporation) to initial fuel is generally less than 10%.

Additional details