DNS of multiple bubble growth and droplet formation in superheated liquids

Abstract

Flash boiling can occur in rocket thrusters used for orbital manoeuvring of spacecraft as the cryogenic propellants are injected into the vacuum of space. For reliable ignition, a precise control of the atomization process is required as atomization and mixing of fuel and oxidizer are crucial for the subsequent combustion process. This work focuses on the microscopic process leading to the primary break-up of a liquid oxygen jet, caused by homogeneous nucleation and growth of vapour bubbles in superheated liquid. Although large levels of superheat can be achieved, sub-critical injection conditions ensure distinct gas and liquid phases with a large density ratio. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are performed using the multiphase solver FS3D. The code solves the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method and PLIC reconstruction for the phase interface treatment. The interfaces are tracked as multiple bubbles grow, deform and coalesce, leading to the formation of a spray. The evaporation rate at the interface and approximate vapour properties are based on pre-computed solutions resolving the thermal boundary layer surrounding isolated bubbles, while liquid inertia and surface tension effects are expected to play a major role in the final spray characteristics which can only be captured by DNS. Simulations with regular arrays of bubbles demonstrate how the initial bubble spacing and thermodynamic conditions lead to distinct spray characteristics and droplet size distributions.