On the dependence of spray momentum flux in spray penetration: Momentum flux packets penetration model

Momentum flux is a very important parameter for predicting the mixing potential of injection processes. Important factors such as spray penetration, spray cone angle, and air entrainment depend largely on spray momentum. In this article, a model is obtained which is able to predict the spray tip penetration using as an input the spray momentum flux signal. The model is based on the division of the momentum flux signal into momentum packets (fuel parcels) sequentially injected, and the tracking of them along the spray. These packets follow a theoretical equation which relates the penetration with the ambient density, momentum, spray cone angle and time. In order to validate the method, measures of momentum flux (impingement force) and macroscopic spray visualization in high density conditions have been performed on several mono-orifice nozzles. High agreement has been obtained between spray penetration prediction from momentum flux measurements and real spray penetration from macroscopic visualization.