NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF A LOBED FUEL INJECTOR

Numerical modeling of the nonreactive mixing processes associated with a lobed fuel injector in a coflowing air stream is presented. The lob ed fuel injector is a device which generates strong streamwise vortici ty, producing locally high strain rates which can enhance the molecula r mixing of reactants while delaying ignition in a controlled manner. Vortex element modeling is used to simulate flow field evolution and f uel element mixing characteristics for this lobed fuel injector. Quant itative predictions for vorticity generation and qualitative results f or streamwise rollup compare well qualitatively with recent experiment al investigations of this flow field [Smith ct nl., Phys. Fluids 9, 66 7 (1997)]. Parametric studies of the effects of lobe amplitude-to-wave length ratio, lobe angle, and lobe shape for given flow conditions sug gest that geometrical features may be optimized to enhance mixing and control reaction processes. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S 1070-6631(98)02911-0].