A numerical study on the effect of cavitation erosion in a diesel injector

The consequences of geometry alterations in a diesel injector caused by cavitation erosion are investigated with numerical simulations. The differences in the results between the nominal design geometry and the eroded one are analyzed for the internal injector flow and spray formation. The flow in the injector is modeled with a three-phase Eulerian approach using a compressible pressure-based multiphase flow solver. Cavitation is simulated with a nonequilibrium mass transfer rate model based on the simplified form of the Rayleigh–Plesset equation. Slip velocity between the liquid-vapor mixture and air is included in the model by solving two separate momentum conservation equations. The eroded injector is found to result in a loss in the rate of injection but also lower cavitation volume fraction inside the nozzle. The injected sprays are then simulated with a Lagrangian method considering as initial conditions the predicted flow characteristics at the exit of the nozzle. The results obtained show wider spray dispersion for the eroded injector and shorter spray tip penetration.