Simulation of Primary Film Atomization in Prefilming Air-assisted Atomizer Using Volume-of-Fluid Method

We studied fuel atomization in an air-assisted atomizer of aircraft engine with volume-of-fluid method in microgravitation approximation under the conditions closer to the ones of the operating cruise mode. The problem was looked upon in a two-dimensional axisymmetric configuration, including the simulation of the swirl velocity and in a three-dimensional configuration. We found a drop-size distribution function and spatial distribution of kerosene in an atomizer, which was designed by the engineers from UEC-Aviadvigatel JSC. We have hypothesized the formula connecting the drop-size distribution function obtained in the three-dimensional configuration with the distribution function obtained in the two-dimensional configuration. Along with that, the spray half angles found in these configurations appeared to be the same, although, generally, there is a difference in spatial distribution of kerosene drops.