Numerical investigations of cavitation in a nozzle on the LNG fuel internal flow characteristics

The internal flow characteristics of an LNG (liquefied natural gas) nozzle strongly influence spray formation and atomization. A numerical simulation model of an LNG nozzle was created to investigate the location of cavitation in the nozzle and analyse the causes after the feasibility of the numerical simulation method had been verified. Meanwhile, the effects of cavitation were investigated under three different injection pressures. The results show that because of the influence of the pressure gradient field, cavitation occurs in the lower portion of the hole, and subsequently, in the upper portion of the hole. In particular, cavitation causes the outlet fuel mass flow to widely fluctuate.