Swirling atomization is an effective approach to improve atomization performance. The influence of swirling air on biodiesel spray and atomization characteristics was investigated via computational fluid dynamics simulations, focusing on the effects of swirling angle and injection position on spray morphology and droplet size distribution. The results show that increasing the swirling angle leads to the flow field transformation from a central jet to a swirling diffusion flow with internal and outer recirculation zones. The evolution of fuel spray transitions from columnar-shaped to cup-shaped and finally to conical-shaped morphology. A more desirable droplet size distribution is achieved when air is injected at the upper side of the chamber. In this case, as the horizontal inclination angle increases from 15° to 75°, the Sauter mean diameter (SMD) and spray penetration length of biodiesel decrease by 47.19% and 56.39%, while the spray cone angle and droplet injection rate increase by 296.43% and 89.67%, respectively. Conversely, as the vertical inclination angle increases from 10° to 50°, the spray penetration length and droplet injection rate of biodiesel decrease by 32.74% and 28.22%, whereas the SMD and spray cone angle increase by 31.21% and 170.59%, respectively. Optimal atomization performance is obtained at horizontal inclination angles of 30–45° or vertical inclination angles of 20–30°. • Optimized air injection strategy to enhance biodiesel atomization is proposed. • The mechanism of air swirling on biodiesel spray flow field evolution is revealed. • Quantitative relation between swirling angle and atomization is established.
Jiang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: