Impact of a discretization scheme on an autoignition time in LES of a reacting droplet-laden mixing layer

Abstract

We analyse an autoignition process in a two-phase flow in a temporally evolving mixing layer formed between streams of a cold liquid fuel (heptane at 300 K) and a hot oxidizer (air at 1000 K) flowing in opposite directions. We focus on the influence of a discretization method on the prediction of the autoignition time and evolution of the flame in its early development phase. We use a high-order code based on the 6th order compact difference method for the Navier–Stokes and continuity equations combined with the 2nd order Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) and 5th order Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory (WENO) schemes applied for the discretization of the advection terms in the scalar transport equations. The obtained results show that the autoignition time is more dependent on the discretization method than on the flow initial conditions, i.e., the Reynolds number and the initial turbulence intensity. In terms of mean values, the autoignition occurs approximately 15% earlier when the TVD scheme is used. In this case, the ignition phase characterizes a sharp peak in the temporal evolution of the maximum temperature. The observed differences are attributed to a more dissipative character of the TVD scheme. Its usage leads to a higher mean level of the fuel in the gaseous form and a smoother distribution of species resulting in a lower level of the scalar dissipation rate, which facilitates the autoignition process.