Application of an Equilibrium Phase (EP) Spray Model to Multi-component Gasoline Direct Injection

Abstract: An Equilibrium Phase (EP) spray model has been recently proposed for modeling high-pressure diesel fuel injection, which is based on jet theory and a phase equilibrium assumption. In this approach, the non-equilibrium processes of drop breakup, collision and surface vaporization are neglected, assuming that spray vaporization is a mixing-controlled equilibrium process. A liquid-jet model and a gas-jet model are also intro-duced to improve grid-independency. In the current study, the EP model is applied in simulations of multi-hole gasoline direct injection (GDI). The model is validated at ambient densities from 3 to 9 kg/m3 and ambient temperatures from 400 K to 900 K, for two different GDI injectors, i.e. the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray G injector and a GM injector. Iso-octane is used as the surrogate in consistency with available experi-ments. The results show good agreement in terms of liquid/vapor penetration, shape of the vapor envelope, and the velocity evolution along the injector centerline. Then, a 10-component gasoline surrogate fuel is used to demonstrate the capability of this model for multi-component spray simulations, which is essential for engine combustion and emission predictions.