Large-eddy simulation of multiphase flows in complex combustors

Large-eddy simulation (LES) is a promising technique to accurately predict reacting multi-phase Sows in practical combustors involving complex physical phenomena of turbulent mixing and combustion dynamics. Our goal in the present work is to develop a computational tool based on particle-tracking schemes capable of performing hi-fidelity multiphase flow simulations with models to capture liquid-sheet breakup, droplet evaporation, droplet deformation and drag. An Eulerian low-Mach number formulation on arbitrary shaped unstructured grids is used to compute the gaseous phase. The dispersed phase is solved in a Lagrangian framework by tracking a large number of particles on the unstructured grid. The interphase mass, momentum, and energy transport are modeled using two-way coupling of point-particles. A series of validation simulations are performed in coaxial and realistic gas-turbine combustor geometries to evaluate the predictions made for multiphase, turbulent flow.