Transcritical Mixing and Auto-Ignition of n-dodecane Liquid Fuel using a Diffused Interface Method

TL;DR

This paper presents a high-fidelity simulation framework using a diffused-interface method to accurately model transcritical spray mixing and auto-ignition of n-dodecane fuel under high-pressure conditions, capturing complex chemical and fluid dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel finite volume LES solver with a diffused-interface approach that incorporates real-fluid properties and accurately predicts ignition and mixing in transcritical conditions.

Findings

Simulation results agree well with experimental spray parameters.

The framework captures intermediate species formation during ignition.

It effectively models low- and high-temperature ignition processes.

Abstract

High-fidelity simulations of transcritical spray mixing and auto ignition in a combustion chamber are performed at high pressure and temperature conditions using a recently developed finite rate LES solver. The simulation framework is based on a diffused-interface (DI) method that solves the compressible multi-species conservation equations along with the Peng Robinson state equation and real-fluid transport properties. A finite volume approach with entropy stable scheme is employed to accurate simulate the non-linear real fluid flow. LES analysis is performed for non-reacting and reacting spray conditions targeting the ECN Spray A configuration at chamber conditions with a pressure of 60 bar and temperatures between 800 K and 1200 K to investigate effects of the real-fluid environment and low-temperature chemistry. Comparisons with measurements in terms of global spray parameters and mixture fraction distributions demonstrates the accuracy in modeling the turbulent mixing behavior. Good overall agreement of the auto-ignition process is obtained from simulation results at different ambient temperature conditions and the formation of intermediate species is captured by the simulations, indicating that the presented numerical framework adequately reproduces the corresponding low-and-high-temperature ignition processes under high-pressure conditions that are relevant to realistic diesel fuel injection systems.