Modeling atomization of high-pressure diesel sprays

This paper deals with a numerical and experimental characterization of a high-pressure diesel spray injected by a common-rail injection system. The experiments considered a free non-evaporating spray and they were performed in a vessel reproducing the practical density that characterizes a D.I. diesel engine at injection time. The fuel was supplied at high pressure by a common-rail injection system with a single hole tip. The computations have been carried out by using both the TAB model and a hybrid model that allows one to describe both liquid jet atomization and droplet breakup. In order to validate the breakup model, an extensive comparison between data and numerical predictions has been carried out in terms of spray penetration, Sauter mean diameter, near and far spray cone angles, and spray structure.