Turbulent flow simulation of liquid jet emanating from pressure-swirl atomizer

The performances of three linear eddy viscosity models (LEVM) and one algebraic Reynolds stress model (ARSM) for the simulation of turbulent flow inside and outside pressure-swirl atomizer are evaluated by comparing the interface position with available experimental data and by comparing the turbulence intensity profiles at the atomizer exit. It is found that the turbulence models investigated exhibit zonal behaviors, i.e. none of the models investigated performs well throughout the entire flow field. The turbulence intensity has a significant influence on the global characteristics of the flow field. The turbulence models with better predictions of the turbulence intensity, such as Gatski-Speziale's ARSM model, can yield better predictions of the global characteristics of the flow field, e.g. the reattachment lengths for the backward-facing step flow and the sudden expansion pipe flow, or the discharge coefficient, film thickness and the liquid sheet outer surface position for the atomizer flows. The standard k-epsilon model predicts stronger turbulence intensity as compared to the other models and therefore yields smaller film thickness and larger liquid sheet outer surface position. In average, the ARSM model gives both quantitatively and qualitatively better results as compared to the standard k-epsilon model and the low Reynolds number models.