Numerical modelling and experimental validation of dripping, jetting and whipping modes of gas dynamic virtual nozzle

Kovačič, Krištof (author), Gregorc, Jurij (author), Šarler, Božidar (author)

Purpose – This study aims to develop an experimentally validated three-dimensional numerical model for predicting different flow patterns produced with a gas dynamic virtual nozzle (GDVN). Design/methodology/approach – The physical model is posed in the mixture formulation and copes with the unsteady, incompressible, isothermal, Newtonian, low turbulent two-phase flow. The computational fluid dynamics numerical solution is based on the half-space finite volume discretisation. The geo-reconstruct volume-of-fluid scheme tracks the interphase boundary between the gas and the liquid. To ensure numerical stability in the transition regime and adequately account for turbulent behaviour, the k-v shear stress transport turbulence model is used. The model is validated by comparison with the experimental measurements on a vertical, downward-positioned GDVN configuration. Three different combinations of air and water volumetric flow rates have been solved numerically in the range of Reynolds numbers for airflow 1,009–2,596 and water 61–133, respectively, at Weber numbers 1.2–6.2. Findings – The half-space symmetry allows the numerical reconstruction of the dripping, jetting and indication of the whipping mode. The kinetic energy transfer from the gas to the liquid is analysed, and locations with locally increased gas kinetic energy are observed. The calculated jet shapes reasonably well match the experimentally obtained high-speed camera videos. Practical implications – The model is used for the virtual studies of new GDVN nozzle designs and optimisation of their operation. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the developed model numerically reconstructs all three GDVN flow regimes for the first time.

• Language: English
• Keywords: flow-focusing, dripping, jetting, whipping, gas dynamic virtual nozzle, CFD
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 1582-1608
• Numbering: Vol. 34, iss. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-155460
• UDC: 532
• ISSN on article: 0961-5539
• DOI: 10.1108/HFF-09-2023-0573
• COBISS.SI-ID: 183506435
• Publication date in RUL: 03.04.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International journal of numerical methods for heat & fluid flow
• Publisher: Emerald
• ISSN: 0961-5539
• COBISS.SI-ID: 15153413

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: fokusiranje toka, kapljanje, brizganje, opletanje, plinsko dinamične virtualna šobe, računalniška dinamika tekočin