Numerical simulation of liquid fuel sprays evolution and the subsequent vapor/air mixture formation in a duct with a 90°-bend (Reprinted from International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol 35, pg 197-203, 2008)

Kerosene spray evolution and droplet vaporization and subsequent mixing of the resulting vapor with air in a 90 degrees-bended duct are studied numerically. The role played by the bend on the aforementioned processes is highlighted by comparing the bend results with results in a straight duct that has cross-sectional dimensions and overall length as those of the bended duct. Different case studies are considered. The droplet/wall interaction regime adopted is the reflection regime. The droplet injection and wall temperature conditions are selected in such a way that this choice of droplet/wall interaction regime is justified. Results show that, as compared with the straight duct results, there is a significant role played by the bend in enhancing droplet heatup, vaporization, and subsequent mixing of the vapor with the air. For sufficiently fine droplets (with a mean diameter less than about 20 pm) droplet/wall interaction loses its significance as a mechanism that dictates the subsequent air/vapor-mixture formation scenarios in the duct, leaving the bend geometry alone to do so. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.