A numerical simulation of the distribution and the variation law of the liquid water content in icing wind tunnel

•The distribution law of the LWC in the icing wind tunnel was numerically studied.•Influence of initial parameters on the distribution were quantitatively investigated.•The simulation model of the icing wind tunnel was validated.•The maximum deviation and mean deviation are at 0.22 mm and 0.13 mm, respectively. To solve the aircraft icing problem, simulation of the high-altitude clouds as the icing environment becomes necessary. Clouds always contain many micro-scale subcooled droplets. The accurate control of the icing environment simulation is challenging. To investigate the distribution and the variation law of the liquid water content in the icing wind tunnel, a simulation model of the icing wind tunnel was developed with the reprogramming software FLUENT. The model was validated with the parameters of ice shape and maximum ice thickness on the model of SC0710 airfoil with a constant cross-section at zero angle of attack. The errors of the maximum ice thickness, the maximum and mean deviation are 5.06%, 0.22 mm and 0.13 mm, respectively. Then, the influences of the parameters of water droplets at the nozzle exit and airflow were simulated and analyzed. The results indicate that increasing the initial velocity or temperature of water droplets at nozzle exit will promote the uniformity of the liquid water content (LWC) distribution and reduce the average LWC in the test section. The average LWC of the test section is significantly reduced due to a large amount of water droplets hitting the wall under the action of inertia once the medium volume diameter (MVD) exceeds 40 μm.