Experimental Investigation and Numerical CFD Assessment of a Thermodynamic Breakup Model for Superheated Sprays with Injection Pressure up to 700 Bar

Among the most relevant fields of research recently investigated for improving performance gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines, there are ultrahigh pressures and flash-boiling phenomenon. Both perform roles in air/fuel mixing process, reducing tailpipe emissions implementing new combustion methods. When a high-temperature fuel is released into an environment with pressure lower than fuel’s saturation pressure, flash boiling occurs. Due to complex two-phase flow dynamics quick droplet vaporization, can significantly modify spray formation. Specifically, if properly controlled, produces important benefits fuel–air mixture formation, quality and, general, overall engine operation. Flash was broadly classical but few works concern pressure. Here, investigation produced by multihole injector performed using both experimental imaging techniques CFD simulations aiming highlight combined impact occurrence on morphology. The shadowgraph method employed observe experimentally. information gathered allows assessing performances Eulerian–Lagrangian algorithm purposely developed. Breakup evaporation models, appropriate flashing sprays, were implemented (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code. results demonstrate good agreement, demonstrating that through adoption breakup model, it possible reproduce non-evaporating superheated sprays while changing simulation parameters. Finally, also show significance preventing collapse.