Numerical investigation of droplet evaporation modeling in combustion environment

Two of the most employed droplet evaporation models in CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) applications are analyzed in a numerical context. Both are the infinite liquid conductivity versions of Abramzon-Sirignano and Miller et al. models. The study comprehends a systematic investigation of both models and different procedures used to address thermo-chemical properties. Initially, investigations are addressed in a single droplet framework for different fuels (i.e. ethanol, hexane, and decane). Herein, available experimental data give support to the corresponding discussions. In a second part, the two models and the simplification of the surrounding gas mixture by air are investigated in flames propagating in ethanol droplet mists. A detailed chemistry model is used to represent the combustion of ethanol in air. Results help the choice of methods employed for droplet evaporation modeling in a general context. The methodology adopted in our analyses allows the assessment of each simplification and converges to an optimal combination of methods.