Very large eddy simulation–volume of fluid–discrete phase model based simulation of transverse jet atomization

The transverse jet is an effective method for aerospace fuel atomization, but complex two-phase physical processes pose challenges for numerical simulation. In this study, the very large eddy simulation (VLES) method is employed to model turbulent stresses, while the volume of fluid -coupled discrete particle model (VOF–DPM) method is utilized to simulate the liquid phase atomization. A comprehensive simulation framework based on the combined application of VLES and VOF–DPM has been developed, and its accuracy and efficiency have been systematically investigated. This research begins by comparing the prediction results obtained by coupling the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence model with DPM, VOF, and VOF–DPM models, demonstrating that the VOF–DPM method yields jet penetration depths that align more closely with experimental data and offering a more realistic jet atomization process. Additionally, VOF–DPM captures more detailed flow field information and reduces computational mesh requirements, achieving a computational speed up to 20 times faster than VOF. Furthermore, the prediction results from coupling RANS, large eddy simulation (LES), and VLES turbulence models with the VOF–DPM method are evaluated, indicating that the VLES method provides accurate predictions of fundamental characteristics and parameters of transverse jets. Compared to RANS, VLES captures finer flow details such as small-scale vortical structures at the liquid column surface. Compared to LES, VLES exhibits lower sensitivity to grid resolution. In summary, this research demonstrates that the VLES–VOF–DPM approach offers significant advantages in both accuracy and computational efficiency for simulating transverse jet atomization, providing a reliable and efficient solution for practical engineering applications.