LAUSR

Abstract The self-pulsation characteristics of a liquid-centered swirl coaxial (LCSC) injector are investigated numerically based on the coupled level set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF) model. Effects of recess length on self-pulsation characteristics are evaluated and discussed. The results demonstrate the crucial role of recess length in exciting self-pulsation. As the recess length increases, spray patterns vary from stable hollow cone to self-pulsated “Christmas tree” shape, and the characteristic frequency increases marginally. Compared with the stable spray, when self-pulsation occurs, the droplets are distributed more widely in the radial direction. Self-pulsation is easily excited under conditions with the critical mixing flow. Several methods to suppress self-pulsation have been proposed. The breakup of the liquid sheet is successively dominated by surface waves and spray self-pulsation as the recess length increases. The waves in both the azimuthal and the axial directions are captured and investigated. The unstable waves are composed of sinuous mode and varicose mode. The varicose waves are responsible for the primary breakup of liquid sheet. The results for the self-pulsated spray suggest that the primary breakup of the liquid sheet is coupled with pressure oscillation inside the confined region. Self-pulsation of recessed LCSC injector is suggested to be caused by the periodical blocking of the annular gap by the liquid sheet.