Numerical simulations of droplet evaporation and breakup effects on heterogeneous detonations

Evaporation and breakup of droplets are critical phenomena in the liquid-fueled, multiphase detonation process. Understanding the relevant conditions and times for each process is crucial for predicting real world behavior. In this paper, the effects of evaporation and breakup on the multiphase detonation process will be explored through Euler-Lagrange (EL) simulations. Various droplet sizes of n-dodecane (C12H26) are reacted with oxygen (O2) utilizing a single-step global reaction mechanism. Droplet processes are modeled using temperature dependent thermophysical properties through the liquid-gas phase change and into the supercritical regime. Two aerodynamic breakup models are considered (based on theorized hydrodynamic instability mechanisms) from both empirical and theoretical approaches. Detonation wave velocity deficits are observed to be sensitive to breakup and evaporation time. It is shown that droplets redistribute fuel vapor mass over their lifetime, perturbing the equivalence ratio and creating vapor rich regions that cannot fully react. It was shown that as the total evaporation time decreases (shorter breakup time), the detonation structure becomes more like the idealized gaseous detonation case.