An investigation on the impact of small-scale models in gasoline direct injection sprays (ECN Spray G)

The work presents a numerical investigation of gasoline direct injection and the resulting early development of spray plumes from an eight-hole injector (Engine Combustion Network Spray G). The objective is to evaluate the impact on the droplet size distribution (DSD) statistics from the assumed model physics, particularly for the small scales. Two modelling approaches are compared: Eulerian–Lagrangian spray atomisation with adaptive mesh refinement and a stochastic fields transported probability density function method. The two models simulate the small scales and sub-grid droplet physics with different approaches, but based on the same concept of transport of liquid surface density. Both approaches predict similar liquid distributions in the near-field comparable to experimental measurements. The spray break-up patterns are very similar and both models reproduce quasi-log-normal droplet distributions, with same overall Sauter mean diameters. The Eulerian–Lagrangian spray atomisation with probability density function approach shows different break-up behaviour between droplets originating from the dilute region and those originating from the dense core region. The transition from Eulerian to Lagrangian can be observed in the Eulerian–Lagrangian spray atomisation with adaptive mesh refinement predicted distribution with an abrupt change in the DSD. Both methods are able to produce similar DSD below filter width/grid size resolution.