Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The hydrodynamic characteristics of three typical ship-like hull sections, in different motions, are numerically investigated using FLUENT, 2009. These simple shapes, namely a v-bottom (triangle) hull, a at-bottom (square) hull and a round-bottom (semi-circle) hull, are investigated in uncoupled heave, sway and roll. The problem is described in two dimensions. A combination of numerical methods and models, found in literature, are used to conduct this investigation. Hull characterisation is achieved through the use of hull mass and damping coe cients. These numerically determined coe cients are compared to experimental work conducted by Vugts (1968). A good correlation between the numerical and experimental results exists for the heave and sway cases. By normalising the coe cients, different hulls are comparable to one another. The numerical models used are validated and veri ed. Roll motion remains largely unsolved for very large angles of roll (in excess of 11°). Different uid ow phenomena occurring around the hull sections have varying degrees of in uence on the motions of a hull. It is found that not one of the turbulence models investigated can be employed to globally solve each type of hull-motion case. Also, forced oscillations in computational simulations require considerably more computational time than free-decay oscillating hull simulations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hidrodinamiese karakteristieke van verskillende skeepsrompvorms, in verskeie bewegingswieë, is numeries ondersoek met behulp van FLUENT, 2009. Drie eenvoudige vorms ('n v-bodem (driehoek), plat-bodem (reghoek) en rondebodem (semi-sirkel) romp) is onderskeidelik ondersoek in opwieg, dwarswieg en rol. Die probleem is twee-dimensioneel. Daar is gebruik gemaak van 'n kombinasie van numeriese metodes en modelle, uit die literatuur, om die ondersoek uit te voer. Die rompe is gekarakteriseer met behulp van massa- en dempingskoëffi siënte. Hierdie numeries bepaalde koë ffisiënte is vergelyk met die eksperimentele werk van Vugts (1968). Daar bestaan 'n goeie korrelasie tussen die numeriese en eksperimentele resultate vir die opwieg en dwarswieg gevalle. Die koë ffisiënte is genormaliseer om die verskeie rompvorms te vergelyk. Die numeriese modelle is geverifi eer en valideer. Rolbewegings is onopgelos vir groot rolhoeke (groter as 11°). Die mate waartoe die romp se beweging beïnvloed word deur die verskillende vloei verskynsels wat om die rompe ontstaan, verskil. Daar is bevind dat geen van die turbulensie modelle gebruik kan word om alle skeepsbeweging-gevalle op te los nie. Gedwonge-ossilasie numeriese simulasies benodig meer berekeningstyd as vrye-verval ossilasie gevalle.

A computational approach to analyze the hydrodynamic performance of a hydrofoil or a marine propeller undergoing unsteady motion has been developed. In order to simulate heave and pitch motion of a hydrofoil, an unsteady boundary element method based modeling is performed. The wake of the hydrofoil is modeled by a continuous dipole sheet and determined in time by applying a force-free condition on its surface. An explicit vortex core model is adapted in this model to capture the rolling up shape and to avoid instability due to roll-up deformation of the wake. The numerical results of the developed model are compared with analytical results and those from the commercial Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solver (ANSYS/FLUENT). The results show close level of agreement with each other. The problem of flow around a marine propeller performing surge, roll and heave motion in an unbounded fluid is formulated and solved using both a vortex-lattice method and a boundary element method. A fully unsteady wake alignment algorithm is implemented into the vortex-lattice method in order to satisfy the force-free condition on the propeller wake surface. Finally, a comparative study of transient propeller forces on a propeller blade obtained from BEM and VLM (with or without fully aligned wake) is carried out and results are presented. In some cases, results from the presented methods are compared with those from RANS or other numerical methods available in the literature. / text

In this thesis we describe the development of Reynolds- averaged Navier Stokes code for the flow past two- dimensional configuration. Particularly, emphasis has been laid on the study of low Reynolds number airfoil aerodynamics. The thesis consists of five chapters covering the back ground history, problem formulation, method of solution and discussion of the results and conclusion. Chapter I deals with a detailed background history of low Reynolds number aerodynamics, problem associated with it, state of the art, its importance in practical applications in aircraft industries. Chapter II describes the mathematical model of the flow physics and various levels of approximations. Also it gives an account of complexity of the equations at low Reynolds number regarding flow separation, transition and reattachment. Chapter III describes method of solution, numerical algorithm developed, description of various upwind schemes, grid system, finite volume discrieti-zation of the governing equations described in Chapter II. Chapter IV describes the application of the newly developed Navier Stokes code for the test cases from GAMM Workshop proceedings. Also it describes validation of the code for Euler solutions, Blasius solution for the flow past flat plate and compressible Navier Stokes solution for the flow past NACA 0012 Airfoil at low Reynolds number. Chapter V describes the application of the Navier Stokes code for the more test cases of current practical interest . In this chapter laminar separation bubble characteristics are investigated in detail regarding formation, growth and shedding in an unsteady environment. Finally the conclusion is drawn regarding the robustness of the newly developed code in predicting the airfoil aerodynamic characteristics at low Reynolds number both in steady and unsteady environment. Lastly, suggestion for future work has been highlighted.

In this dissertation, various VAT parameters are investigated to determine the effect of the overall efficiency of the turbine at a high Reynolds number. To increase the efficiency of the vertical axis turbines, 2D CFD simulations are completed in an effort to better understand the physics behind the operation of these turbines. Specifically, the effect of advance ratio, solidity, and wake interactions were investigated. Simulations were completed in OpenFOAM using the k-ω SST turbulence model at a nominal Reynolds number of 500,000 using a NACA 0015 airfoil. To simulate the motion of the turbine, Arbitrary Mesh Interfacing (AMI) was used. For all of the parameters tested, it was found that the geometric effective angle of attack seen by the turbine blades had a significant impact on the power extracted from the flow. The range of effective angles of attack was found to decrease as the advance ratio increased. In spite of this, a severe loss in the power coefficient occurred at an advance ratio of 2.5 during which the blade experienced dynamic stall. This effect was also seen when the number of turbine blades was changed to four, at a solidity of 1.08. This negative impact on performance was found to be due to the increase in the drag component of the tangential force when dynamic stall occurs. Results indicate that wake interactions between subsequent blades have a large impact on performance especially when the wake interaction alters the flow direction sufficiently to create conditions for dynamic stall. To improve the performance of the VAT in the presence of dynamic stall, calculations were completed of a static twisted blade profile using GenIDLEST and OpenFOAM. There was found to be no improvement in the lift coefficient when comparing the twisted blade profile with a 2D blade at the same median angle of attack as the twisted blade. To further see the effects of the twisted blade, an effective VAT pitching motion was given to the blade and again compared to a 2D blade with the same motion. In this case there was significant improvement seen in the performance of the twisted blade. / Master of Science

[ES] El principal desafío en los motores turbina de gas empleados en aviación reside en aumentar la eficiencia del ciclo termodinámico manteniendo las emisiones contaminantes por debajo de las rigurosas restricciones. Ésto ha conllevado la necesidad de diseñar nuevas estrategias de inyección/combustión que operan en puntos de operación peligrosos por su cercanía al límite inferior de apagado de llama. En este contexto, el concepto Lean Direct Injection (LDI) ha emergido como una tecnología prometedora a la hora de reducir los óxidos de nitrógeno (NOx) emitidos por las plantas propulsoras de los aviones de nueva generación. En este contexto, la presente tesis tiene como objetivos contribuir al conocimiento de los mecanismos físicos que rigen el comportamiento de un quemador LDI y proporcionar herramientas de análisis para una profunda caracterización de las complejas estructuras de flujo de turbulento generadas en el interior de la cámara de combustión. Para ello, se ha desarrollado una metodología numérica basada en CFD capaz de modelar el flujo bifásico no reactivo en el interior de un quemador LDI académico mediante enfoques de turbulencia U-RANS y LES en un marco Euleriano-Lagrangiano. La resolución numérica de este problema multi-escala se aborda mediante la descripción completa del flujo a lo largo de todos los elementos que constituyen la maqueta experimental, incluyendo su paso por el swirler y entrada a la cámara de combustión. Ésto se lleva a cabo través de dos códigos CFD que involucran dos estrategias de mallado diferentes: una basada en algoritmos de generación y refinamiento automático de la malla (AMR) a través de CONVERGE y otra técnica de mallado estático más tradicional mediante OpenFOAM. Por un lado, se ha definido una metodología para obtener una estrategia de mallado óptima mediante el uso del AMR y se han explotado sus beneficios frente a los enfoques tradicionales de malla estática. De esta forma, se ha demostrado que la aplicabilidad de las herramientas de control de malla disponibles en CONVERGE como el refinamiento fijo (fixed embedding) y el AMR son una opción muy interesante para afrontar este tipo de problemas multi-escala. Los resultados destacan una optimización del uso de los recursos computacionales y una mayor precisión en las simulaciones realizadas con la metodología presentada. Por otro lado, el uso de herramientas CFD se ha combinado con la aplicación de técnicas de descomposición modal avanzadas (Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Dynamic Mode Decomposition). La identificación numérica de los principales modos acústicos en la cámara de combustión ha demostrado el potencial de estas herramientas al permitir caracterizar las estructuras de flujo coherentes generadas como consecuencia de la rotura de los vórtices (VBB) y de los chorros fuertemente torbellinados presentes en el quemador LDI. Además, la implementación de estos procedimientos matemáticos ha permitido tanto recuperar información sobre las características de la dinámica de flujo como proporcionar un enfoque sistemático para identificar los principales mecanismos que sustentan las inestabilidades en la cámara de combustión. Finalmente, la metodología validada ha sido explotada a través de un Diseño de Experimentos (DoE) para cuantificar la influencia de los factores críticos de diseño en el flujo no reactivo. De esta manera, se ha evaluado la contribución individual de algunos parámetros funcionales (el número de palas del swirler, el ángulo de dichas palas, el ancho de la cámara de combustión y la posición axial del orificio del inyector) en los patrones del campo fluido, la distribución del tamaño de gotas del combustible líquido y la aparición de inestabilidades en la cámara de combustión a través de una matriz ortogonal L9 de Taguchi. Este estudio estadístico supone un punto de partida para posteriores estudios de inyección, atomización y combus / [CA] El principal desafiament als motors turbina de gas utilitzats a la aviació resideix en augmentar l'eficiència del cicle termodinàmic mantenint les emissions contaminants per davall de les rigoroses restriccions. Aquest fet comporta la necessitat de dissenyar noves estratègies d'injecció/combustió que radiquen en punts d'operació perillosos per la seva aproximació al límit inferior d'apagat de flama. En aquest context, el concepte Lean Direct Injection (LDI) sorgeix com a eina innovadora a l'hora de reduir els òxids de nitrogen (NOx) emesos per les plantes propulsores dels avions de nova generació. Sota aquest context, aquesta tesis té com a objectius contribuir al coneixement dels mecanismes físics que regeixen el comportament d'un cremador LDI i proporcionar ferramentes d'anàlisi per a una profunda caracterització de les complexes estructures de flux turbulent generades a l'interior de la càmera de combustió. Per tal de dur-ho a terme s'ha desenvolupat una metodología numèrica basada en CFD capaç de modelar el flux bifàsic no reactiu a l'interior d'un cremador LDI acadèmic mitjançant els enfocaments de turbulència U-RANS i LES en un marc Eulerià-Lagrangià. La resolució numèrica d'aquest problema multiescala s'aborda mitjançant la resolució completa del flux al llarg de tots els elements que constitueixen la maqueta experimental, incloent el seu pas pel swirler i l'entrada a la càmera de combustió. Açò es duu a terme a través de dos codis CFD que involucren estratègies de mallat diferents: una basada en la generación automàtica de la malla i en l'algoritme de refinament adaptatiu (AMR) amb CONVERGE i l'altra que es basa en una tècnica de mallat estàtic més tradicional amb OpenFOAM. D'una banda, s'ha definit una metodologia per tal d'obtindre una estrategia de mallat òptima mitjançant l'ús de l'AMR i s'han explotat els seus beneficis front als enfocaments tradicionals de malla estàtica. D'aquesta forma, s'ha demostrat que l'aplicabilitat de les ferramente de control de malla disponibles en CONVERGE com el refinament fixe (fixed embedding) i l'AMR són una opció molt interessant per tal d'afrontar aquest tipus de problemes multiescala. Els resultats destaquen una optimització de l'ús dels recursos computacionals i una major precisió en les simulacions realitzades amb la metodologia presentada. D'altra banda, l'ús d'eines CFD s'ha combinat amb l'aplicació de tècniques de descomposició modal avançades (Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Dynamic Mode Decomposition). La identificació numèrica dels principals modes acústics a la càmera de combustió ha demostrat el potencial d'aquestes ferramentes al permetre caracteritzar les estructures de flux coherents generades com a conseqüència del trencament dels vòrtex (VBB) i dels raigs fortament arremolinats presents al cremador LDI. A més, la implantació d'estos procediments matemàtics ha permès recuperar informació sobre les característiques de la dinàmica del flux i proporcionar un enfocament sistemàtic per tal d'identificar els principals mecanismes que sustenten les inestabilitats a la càmera de combustió. Finalment, la metodologia validada ha sigut explotada a traves d'un Diseny d'Experiments (DoE) per tal de quantificar la influència dels factors crítics de disseny en el flux no reactiu. D'aquesta manera, s'ha avaluat la contribución individual d'alguns paràmetres funcionals (el nombre de pales del swirler, l'angle de les pales, l'amplada de la càmera de combustió i la posició axial de l'orifici de l'injector) en els patrons del camp fluid, la distribució de la mida de gotes del combustible líquid i l'aparició d'inestabilitats en la càmera de combustió mitjançant una matriu ortogonal L9 de Taguchi. Aquest estudi estadístic és un bon punt de partida per a futurs estudis de injecció, atomització i combustió en cremadors LDI. / [EN] Aeronautical gas turbine engines present the main challenge of increasing the efficiency of the cycle while keeping the pollutant emissions below stringent restrictions. This has led to the design of new injection-combustion strategies working on more risky and problematic operating points such as those close to the lean extinction limit. In this context, the Lean Direct Injection (LDI) concept has emerged as a promising technology to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) for next-generation aircraft power plants In this context, this thesis aims at contributing to the knowledge of the governing physical mechanisms within an LDI burner and to provide analysis tools for a deep characterisation of such complex flows. In order to do so, a numerical CFD methodology capable of reliably modelling the 2-phase nonreacting flow in an academic LDI burner has been developed in an Eulerian-Lagrangian framework, using the U-RANS and LES turbulence approaches. The LDI combustor taken as a reference to carry out the investigation is the laboratory-scale swirled-stabilised CORIA Spray Burner. The multi-scale problem is addressed by solving the complete inlet flow path through the swirl vanes and the combustor through two different CFD codes involving two different meshing strategies: an automatic mesh generation with adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) algorithm through CONVERGE and a more traditional static meshing technique in OpenFOAM. On the one hand, a methodology to obtain an optimal mesh strategy using AMR has been defined, and its benefits against traditional fixed mesh approaches have been exploited. In this way, the applicability of grid control tools available in CONVERGE such as fixed embedding and AMR has been demonstrated to be an interesting option to face this type of multi-scale problem. The results highlight an optimisation of the use of the computational resources and better accuracy in the simulations carried out with the presented methodology. On the other hand, the use of CFD tools has been combined with the application of systematic advanced modal decomposition techniques (i.e., Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Dynamic Mode Decomposition). The numerical identification of the main acoustic modes in the chamber have proved their potential when studying the characteristics of the most powerful coherent flow structures of strongly swirled jets in a LDI burner undergoing vortex breakdown (VBB). Besides, the implementation of these mathematical procedures has allowed both retrieving information about the flow dynamics features and providing a systematic approach to identify the main mechanisms that sustain instabilities in the combustor. Last, this analysis has also allowed identifying some key features of swirl spray systems such as the complex pulsating, intermittent and cyclical spatial patterns related to the Precessing Vortex Core (PVC). Finally, the validated methodology is exploited through a Design of Experiments (DoE) to quantify the influence of critical design factors on the non-reacting flow. In this way, the individual contribution of some functional parameters (namely the number of swirler vanes, the swirler vane angle, the combustion chamber width and the axial position of the nozzle tip) into both the flow field pattern, the spray size distribution and the occurrence of instabilities in the combustion chamber are evaluated throughout a Taguchi's orthogonal array L9. Such a statistical study has supposed a good starting point for subsequent studies of injection, atomisation and combustion on LDI burners. / Belmar Gil, M. (2020). Computational study on the non-reacting flow in Lean Direct Injection gas turbine combustors through Eulerian-Lagrangian Large-Eddy Simulations [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/159882 / TESIS

Multiphase flows are a common phenomenon. Rains, sediment transport in rivers, snow and dust storms, mud slides and avalanches are examples of multiphase flows occurring in nature. Blood flow is an example of multiphase flow in the human body, which is of vital importance for survival. Multiphase flows occur widely in industrial applications from hydrocarbon extrac-tion to fuel combustion in engines, from spray painting to spray drying, evaporators, pumps and pneumatic conveying. Predicting multiphase flows is of vital importance to understand natural phenomenon and to design and improve industrial processes. Separated flows and dispersed flows are two types of multiphase flows, which occur together in many industrial applications. Physical features of these two classes are different and the transition from one to another involves complex flow physics. Experimental studies of multiphase flows are not easy, as most real world phenomenon cannot be scaled down to laboratory models. Even for those phenomenon that can be demonstrated at lab-oratory scale, rescaling to real world applications requires mathematical models. There are many challenges in experimental measurements of multiphase flows as well. Measurement techniques well suited for single phase flows have constraints when measuring multiphase phenomenon. Un-certainty in experimental measurements poses considerable difficulties in validating numerical models developed for predicting these flows. Owing to the computational effort required, direct simulation of multiphase flows, even for small scale real world applications is out of present scope. Numerical methods have been developed for dealing with each class of flow separately, that in-volves use of models for phenomenon that is computationally demanding. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) methods for predicting multiphase flows place strong requirements on turbulence models, as information about fluctuating quantities in the field, that have significant effects on dispersed phase, is not available. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) gives better predictions than RANS as the instantaneous field data is available and large scale unsteadiness that effects the dispersed phase can be captured. Recent LES studies of multiphase flows showed that the sub-grid-scale (SGS) model used for the continuous phase has an effect on the evolution of the dispersed phase. In this work, LES of multiphase flows is performed using Explicit Filtering Large Eddy Sim-ulation method. In this method, spatial derivatives are computed using higher order compact schemes that have spectral-like resolution. SGS modeling is provided by the use of a filter with smoothly falling transfer function. This method is mathematically consistent and converges to a DNS as the grid is refined. It has been successfully applied to combustion and aero-acoustics and this work is the first application of the method to multiphase flows. Study of dispersed multiphase flows was carried out in this work. Modeling of the dispersed phase is kept simple since the in-tention was to evaluate the capability of explicit filtering LES method in predicting multiphase flows. Continuous phase is solved using a compressible formulation with explicit filtering method. Spatial derivatives are computed using fourth and sixth order compact schemes that use derivative splitting method proposed by Hixon & Turkel (2000a) and second order Runge-Kutta (RK2) time stepping. The grid is stretched as needed. Non-reflecting boundary conditions due to Poinsot & Lele (1992) are used to avoid acoustic reflections from boundaries. Buffer zones (Bogey & Bailly (2002)) are employed at outflow and lateral boundaries to damp vortical structures. The code developed for continuous phase is evaluated by studying round jets at Re =36,000 and comparing with experimental measurements of Hussein et al. (1994) and Panchapakesan & Lumley (1993). Simulations showed excellent agreement with experimental results. Rate of decay of axial velocity and the evolution of turbulence intensities on the centerline matched very well with measurements. Radial profiles of mean and fluctuating components of velocities exhibit self-similarity. A set of studies were then performed using this code to assess the effect of numerical scheme, grid refinement & stretching and simulation times on the predictions. Results from these simulations showed good agreements with experiments and established the code for use in multiphase flows under various simulation conditions. To assess the prediction of multiphase flows using this LES method, an evaporating spray ex-periment by Chen et al. (2006) was simulated. The experiment uses a nebuliser for generating a finely atomized spray of acetone, which avoids complex breakdown phenomenon associated with air blast atomizers and provides well defined boundary conditions for model evaluation. The neb-uliser sits upstream in a pipe carrying air and droplets travel along with air for a distance of 10 diameters before exiting into a wind tunnel with co-flowing air. Droplet breakdown, if any, takes place inside the pipe and the spray is finely atomized by the time it reaches pipe exit. One of the experimental cases at Re =31,600, with a mass loading of 1.1% and a jet velocity of 56 m/s is simulated. Particle size has a χsquared distribution with a Sauter mean diameter of 18µm. In the self-similar region, decay of centerline velocity and turbulence intensities matched well with ex-perimental results. Continuous phase exhibits self-similar behavior. A series of simulations were then performed to match the initial region of the spray by altering the inflow conditions in the sim-ulation. Simulation that matched the breakdown location of the experiment revealed the presence of a relaxation zone with a higher initial spreading rate, followed by a lower asymptotic spreading rate. Studies were performed to understand the effect of various phenomenon like evaporation and droplet size on this behavior. A study of breakdown region of particle-laden jets was performed to understand the presence of relaxation zone post breakdown. Flow conditions were similar to evaporating spray experiment except that particles do not evaporate, mass loading is 2% and jet Reynolds number Re =2000. A series of grid refinements were performed and on the largest grid, gird spacing Δy =7.5η, where ηis an estimate of the Kolmogorov length scale based on flow conditions. Decay of axial velocity on the centerline showed variations with grid refinement, tending to the experimentally measured value as the grid is refined. Variation of turbulence intensities along the centerline revealed a jump in axial velocity fluctuations at the breakdown location, while radial and azimuthal velocities showed a smooth increase to their asymptotic value. This jump was resolved on grid refinement and on fine grids axial velocity fluctuations followed the other two quantities closely in their rise to asymptotic state. Comparison of these quantities with a jet without particles revealed that the flow features are same for a jet with and without particles, and at the mass loading studied, particles have negligible effect on jet breakdown. Another study performed at a higher Reynolds number of Re =11,000, under similar flow conditions showed similar behavior. To assess the ability of predicting dispersed phase, simulations of particle-laden flows at low Stokes number were performed and compared against an experiment by Lau & Nathan (2014). The experiment studies variation of velocity and particle concentration along the centerline, and half widths of a jet velocity and concentration. Particles are injected into a pipe along with air, and the two phase flow is fully developed by the time it exits the pipe into a wind tunnel along with a co-flow. Particles are mono-disperse with a density of 1200 kg/m3. Mass loading is 40% so that particles have a significant effect on the continuous phase. Two cases at particle Stokes number of 1.4, one with Re =10,000, bulk velocity of 12 m/s and particle diameter of 20µm and another with Re =22,500, bulk velocity of 36 m/s and particle diameter of 10µm were simulated. Simulations of both the cases showed good match with experimental measurements of centerline decay for the continuous phase. For the dispersed case, simulations with larger particles showed good match with experimental results, while smaller particles showed differences. This was understood to be the effect of lateral migration which is prominent in case of smaller particles, the models for which have not been used in the present simulation study.

Early in the ship design process, naval architects must often evaluate and compare multiple hull forms for a specific set of requirements. Analytical tools are useful for quick comparisons, but they usually specialize in a specific hull type and are therefore not adequate for comparing dissimilar hull types. Scale model hydrodynamic testing is the traditional evaluation method, and is applicable to most hull forms. Scale model tests are usually performed on the largest model possible in order to achieve the most accurate performance predictions. However, such testing is very resource intensive, and is therefore not a cost effective method of evaluating multiple hull forms. This thesis explores the testing of small scale models. It is hypothesized that although the data acquired by these tests will not be accurate enough for performance predictions, they will be accurate enough to rank the performance of the multiple hull forms being evaluated.

Convergent-Divergent (C-D) nozzles are used in rocket engines to produce thrust as a reaction to the acceleration of hot combustion chamber gases in the opposite direction. To maximize the engine performance at high altitudes, large area ratio, bell-shaped or contoured nozzles are used. At lower altitudes, the exit pressure of these nozzles is lower than the ambient pressure. During this over-expanded condition, the nozzle-internal flow adapts to the ambient pressure through an oblique shock. But the boundary layer inside the divergent portion of the nozzle is unable to withstand the pressure rise associated with the shock, and consequently flow separation is induced. Numerical simulation of separated flows in rocket nozzles is challenging because the existing turbulence models are unable to correctly predict shock-induced flow separation. The present thesis addresses this problem. Axisymmetric, steady-state, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations of a conical nozzle and three sub-scale contoured nozzles were carried out to numerically predict flow separation in over-expanded rocket nozzles at different nozzle pressure ratios (NPR). The conical nozzle is the JPL 45◦-15◦ and the contoured nozzles are the VAC-S1, the DLR-PAR and the VAC-S6-short. The commercial CFD code ANSYS FLUENT 13 was first validated for simulation of separated cold gas flows in the VAC-S1 nozzle. Some modeling issues in the numerical simulations of flow separation in rocket nozzles were determined. It is recognized that compressibility correction, nozzle-lip thickness and upstream-extension of the external domain are the sources of uncertainty, besides turbulence modeling. In high-speed turbulent flows, compressibility is known to affect dissipation rate of turbulence kinetic energy. As a consequence, a reduction in the spreading rate of supersonic mixing layers occurs. Whereas, the standard turbulence models are developed and calibrated for incompressible flows and hence, do not account for this effect. ANSYS FLUENT uses the compressibility correction proposed by Wilcox [1] which modifies the turbulence dissipation terms based on turbulent Mach number. This, as shown in this thesis, may not be appropriate to the prediction of flow separation in rocket nozzles. Simulation results of the standard SST model, with and without the compressibility correction, are compared with the experimental data at NPR=22 for the DLR-PAR nozzle. Compressibility correction is found to cause under-prediction of separation location and hence its use in the prediction of flow separation is not recommended. In the literature, computational domains for the simulation of DLR subscale nozzles have thick nozzle-lips whereas for the VAC subscale nozzles they have no nozzle-lip. Effect of nozzle-lip thickness on flow separation is studied in the DLR-PAR nozzle by varying its nozzle-lip thickness. It is found that nozzle-lip thickness significantly influences both separation location and post-separation pressure recovery by means of the recirculation bubbles formed at the nozzle-lip. Usually, experimental values of free stream turbulence are unknown. So conventionally, to minimize solution dependence on the boundary conditions specified for the ambient flow, the computational domain external to the nozzle is extended in the upstream direction. Its effect on flow separation is studied in the DLR-PAR nozzle through simulations conducted with and without this domain extension. No considerable effect on separation location and pressure recovery is found. The two eddy-viscosity based turbulence models, Spalart-Allmaras (SA) model and Shear Stress Transport (SST) model, are well known to predict separation location better than other eddy-viscosity models, but with moderate success. Their performances, in terms of predicting separation location and post-separation wall pressure distribution, were compared with each other and evaluated against experimental data for the conical and two contoured nozzles. It is found that they fail to predict the separation location correctly, exhibiting sensitivity to the range of NPRs and to the type of nozzle. Depending on NPR, the SST model either under-predicts or over-predicts Free Shock Separation (FSS). Moreover, it also fails to capture Restricted Shock Separation (RSS). With compressibility correction, it under-predicts separation at all NPRs to a greater extent. Even though RSS is captured by using compressibility correction, the transition from FSS to RSS is over-predicted [2]. Early efforts by few researchers to improve predictions of nozzle flow separation by realizability corrections to turbulence models have not been successful, especially in terms of capturing both the separation types. Therefore, causes of turbulence modeling failure in predicting nozzle flow separation correctly were further investigated. It is learnt that limiting of the shear stress inside boundary layer, due to Bradshaw’s assumption, and over-prediction of jet spreading rate are the causes of SST model’s failure in predicting nozzle flow separation correctly. Based on this physical reasoning, values of the a 1 parameter and the two diffusion coefficients σk,2 and σω,2 were empirically modified to match the predicted wall pressure distributions with experimental data of the DLR-PAR and the VAC-S6-short nozzles. The results confirm that accurate prediction of flow separation in rocket nozzles indeed depends on the correct prediction of spreading rate of the supersonic separation-jet. It is demonstrated that accurate RANS simulation of flow separation in rocket nozzles over a wide range of NPRs is feasible by modified values of the diffusion coefficients in turbulence model.

[ES] La creciente preocupación por los problemas medioambientales, la disponibilidad de combustibles fósiles unido a la gran demanda de vehículos, han llevado a los gobiernos a regular las emisiones emitidas a la atmósfera. Existen propuestas de adoptar fuentes de energía renovables. Sin embargo, la sustitución de los combustibles derivados del petróleo no será fácil, rápida o rentable, y el transporte propulsado por motores de combustión interna (ICE) seguirá destacando en los próximos años. La eficiencia de la combustión y el rendimiento del motor están influenciados por el complejo proceso de inyección. La inyección directa de gasolina (GDI) aumenta el ahorro de combustible y cumple los requisitos de emisiones contaminantes, aunque queda potencial por descubrir. Por ello, ha sido objeto de estudio en los últimos años y, en consecuencia, de la presente Tesis. Este trabajo tiene como motivación mejorar el entendimiento en el campo del GDI. La compleja naturaleza transitoria del proceso de inyección hace que el estudio experimental sea un desafío. La Mecánica de Fluidos Computacional (CFD) surge como una potente alternativa a los experimentos y ha sido adoptada para esta investigación. Bajo este contexto, el objetivo de la presente Tesis es desarrollar una metodología predictiva para la caracterización hidráulica del inyector, capaz de ser aplicada a las actuales y futuras generaciones de inyectores GDI, independientemente de las características del inyector y del software de estudio. Una vez validada, el objetivo posterior es utilizar los resultados para analizar el comportamiento del chorro. Este enfoque busca seguir los pasos de la comunidad científica sustituyendo la práctica experimental. La validación de la metodología se lleva a cabo mediante su aplicación en dos inyectores GDI solenoides multi-orificio diferentes. Además, se han utilizado dos códigos CFD comerciales: CONVERGE y StarCCM+. La metodología predictiva se centra en el estudio del flujo interno y el campo cercano para caracterizar hidráulicamente el inyector. El problema a tratar se define como un sistema multifásico en un marco Euleriano y considerando un único fluido. El tratamiento del flujo multifásico se realiza mediante el enfoque Volume-of-Fluid (VOF). Además, se emplea el Homogeneous Relaxation Model (HRM) para considerar el intercambio de masa entre las fases líquida y vapor debido a cavitación y flash boiling. La turbulencia se ha tratado a partir de los enfoques Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) y Large Eddy Simulations (LES). Por otro lado, en cuanto al estudio del flujo externo, se ha adoptado el Discrete Droplet Model (DDM). La atomización y el chorro están influenciados por la geometría de la tobera, por lo que la estrategia de acoplamiento del flujo interno y externo complementa los análisis. Se han adoptado enfoques de acoplamiento unidireccional y mapeado, utilizando como parámetros de entrada los datos de flujo interno de la validada metodología. Esta Tesis aporta una nueva y valiosa metodología predictiva con una elevada precisión a la hora de caracterizar el proceso de inyección en comparativa con datos experimentales. Por otro lado, es directamente trasferible a distintos códigos de cálculo así como aplicable a inyectores con características dispares sin perjudicar las exigencias del modelo. La correcta caracterización del flujo interno ha permitido emplear los datos obtenidos para analizar el comportamiento del chorro eliminando la necesidad de usar datos experimentales. Los resultados obtenidos capturan el comportamiento macroscópico del chorro con una precisión comparable a los experimentos. Aunque todavía hay muchos retos que afrontar, la presente Tesis supone un gran avance en el campo del GDI. El remarcable progreso se debe al desarrollo y uso de una metodología totalmente predictiva, que permite prescindir de la mayoría de los experimentos para contribuir a una mayor y más amplia visión de la física del proceso de inyección. / [CA] La creixent preocupació pels problemes ambientals, la limitada disponibilitat de combustibles fòssils, acompanyat a la gran demanda de vehicles, ha portat el govern a regular els nivells d'emissions emesos a l'atmosfera. Existeixen propostes d'adoptar fonts d'energia renovables. Tanmateix, la substitució dels combustibles líquids derivats del petroli no es durà a terme de forma fàcil, ràpida o rentable, i el transport propulsat per motors de combustió interna (ICE) continuarà destacant en els pròxims anys. L'eficiència de la combustió i el rendiment del motor són fortament influenciats pel complex procés d'injecció. La injecció directa de gasolina (GDI) augmenta l'estalvi de combustible i complix amb els requisits d'emissions, encara que queda molt potencial per descobrir. Per això, aquest ha sigut objecte d'investigació en els últims anys i, com a conseqüència, d'aquesta Tesi. Aquest treball té com a motivació millorar l'enteniment en el camp del GDI. La complexa natura transitòria de la injecció fa que l'estudi experimental siga força complex. La Mecànica de Fluids Computacional (CFD) sorgeix com una potent alternativa als experiments, i ha sigut adoptada per aquesta investigació. Baix aquest mateix context, es proposa com a objectiu principal d'aquesta Tesi el desenvolupament d'una metodologia predictiva per a la caracterització hidràulica de l'injector, capaç de ser aplicada a les actuals i futures generacions d'injectors GDI (independentment de les característiques de l'injector i del software d'estudi). Una vegada validada, el posterior objectiu és analitzar el comportament de l'esprai. Aquest enfocament busca seguir els passos de la comunitat científica substituint la pràctica experimental. La validació de la metodologia ha sigut duta a terme mitjançant la seva aplicació en dos injectors GDI solenoides multi-orifici. A més, s'han utilitzat dos software CFD comercials: CONVERGE i StarCCM+. La metodologia predictiva se centra en l'estudi del flux intern i el camp proper per tal de caracteritzar hidràulicament l'injector. El problema a tractar es defineix en base a un sistema multi-fàsic en un marc Eulerià i considerant un únic fluid. El tractament del fluid multi-fàsic es realitza mitjançant l'aproximació Volume-of-Fluid (VOF). A més, s'utilitza el Homogeneous Relaxation Model (HRM) per tal de considerar l'intercambi de massa entre les fases líquida i vapor degut als fenòmens de cavitació i flash boiling. La turbulència s'ha tractac a través dels enfocaments Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) i Large Eddy Simulations (LES). Pel que fa a l'estudi del fluix extern, s'ha adoptat el Discrete Droplet Model (DDM). Sent conscients que el comportament l'atomització i l'esprai estan influenciats per la geometria de la tovera, l'estratègia d'acoblament del flux intern i extern complementa les anàlisis. S'han adoptat els enfocaments d'acoblament unidireccional i mapejat, utilitzant com a paràmetres d'entrada les dades del flux intern obtingudes amb la validada metodologia. Aquesta Tesi aporta una nova i valuosa metodologia predictiva amb una elevada precisió a l'hora de caracteritzar el procés d'injecció en comparativa amb dades experimentals. És directament transferible a diversos codis de càlcul així com aplicable a injectors amb característiques dispars sense perjudicar les exigències del model. La correcta caracterització del flux intern ha permès utilitzar les dades obtingudes per tal d'analitzar el comportament de l'esprai, eliminant la necessitat d'emprar dades experimentals. Els resultats obtinguts d'aquest estudi capturen el comportament macroscòpic de l'esprai amb una precisió comparable als experiments. Encara que queden molts reptes per afrontar, aquesta Tesi aporta un important avanç al camp del GDI. La ruptura prové del desenvolupament i ús d'una metodologia completament predictiva, que substitueix els experiments requerits i així contribueix a una millor i més ampla visió de la física del procés d'injecció. / [EN] Concerns about climate change, availability of fuel resources and the high demand for vehicles, have led governments to regulate the level of pollution emitted by engines into the atmosphere. There is a strong desire to adopt renewable and sustainable energy sources. However, the substitution of liquid fuels derived from petroleum will not emerge easily, quickly or economically, and Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) will continue to excel for the next few years. Combustion efficiency and engine performance are strongly influenced by the complex fuel injection process. Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) strategies increase fuel economy and meet emission requirements, although many challenges remain, which has therefore been one of the main research objectives in recent years and of this Thesis. The present research aims to provide a better understanding in the field of GDI. The transient and complex nature of the injection process makes the experimental study of GDI quite challenging. Therefore, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) emerges as a powerful alternative adopted for this research. In this context, the main objective of the present Thesis is to develop a predictive methodology capable of being applied to current and future generations of GDI injectors, regardless of the injector features and the software employed, for the hydraulic characterization of the injector. Once validated, the subsequent goal is to employ the obtained results to analyze the behavior of the spray downstream of the injector. The approach attempts to follow the footsteps of the research community to avoid experimental practice. The predictive methodology has been validated through its application to two multi-hole solenoid GDI injectors with different features. In addition, the mentioned methodology has been evaluated using diverse commercial software: CONVERGE and StarCCM+. The methodology focuses on the study of the internal and near-field flow to hydraulically characterize the injector. So the problem to be addressed is a multi-phase system, performed in an Eulerian framework, modeled through a single-fluid approach. The multi-phase flow is treated by means of the Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) approach. Homogeneous Relaxation Model (HRM) is employed to consider the mass exchange between liquid and vapor fuel phases, due to cavitation and flash boiling. The turbulence treatment has been performed from both Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and Large Eddy Simulations (LES) approaches. Regarding the external flow study, the Discrete Droplet Model (DDM) has been adopted. In addition, being aware that atomization and spray behavior is greatly influenced by the nozzle geometry, the coupling strategy of the internal and external flow complements the analyses. One-way coupling and mapping approaches have been adopted, using as input parameters the internal flow data obtained from the already validated methodology. Accordingly, this Thesis provides a new and valuable predictive methodology, which has demonstrated a high accuracy in characterizing the flow behavior during the injection process through comparison with experimental data. It has also proven to be directly transferable to different CFD software and applicable to injectors with dissimilar characteristics without compromising the requirements of the model. The correct internal flow characterization has made it possible to employ the obtained data to analyze the spray patterns, which eliminates the need to consider experimental data. The outcomes of this study macroscopically capture the jet behavior with an accuracy comparable to experiments under different operating conditions. Although there are still many challenges to face, the present Thesis brings a breakthrough in the field of GDI. The quantum leap arises from the development and use of a fully predictive methodology, allowing to avoid most experiments to contribute to a greater and broader vision of the injection process physics. / María Martínez García has been founded through a grant from the Government of Generalitat Valenciana with reference ACIF/2018/118 and financial support from the European Union. These same institutions, Government of Generalitat Valenciana and the European Union, supported through a grant for pre-doctoral stays out of the Comunitat Valenciana with reference BEFPI/2020/057 the research carried out during the stay at Aerothermochemistry and Combustion Systems Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland. Special gratitude from the author to both institutions, Government of Generalitat Valenciana and the European Union, for making this dream possible / Martínez García, M. (2022). Computational Study of the Injection Process in Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Engines [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/185180 / TESIS

[ES] La creciente preocupación sobre el efecto de la emisión de gases nocivos provenientes de motores de combustión interna alternativos (ICE) a la atmósfera ha llevado a los gobiernos a lo ancho del planeta a limitar la cantidad de dichas emisiones, particularmente en Europa a través de las normas EURO. La dificultad en cumplir dichas limitaciones ha llevado a la industria automovilística a cambiar el foco de motores de encendido por compresión (CI) o provocado (SI) hacia la electrificación o los combustibles libres de carbono. Sin embargo, esta transición no se puede llevar a cabo de manera sencilla en el corto y medio plazo, mientras que combustibles libres de carbono como el Hidrógeno (H2 ) o el Amoniaco (NH3 ) siguen produciendo algunos contaminantes como los Óxidos de Nitrógeno (NOx ), con los cuales hay que lidiar. Estas emisiones pueden ser particularmente dañinas para el ser humano ya que incrementan el riesgo de cáncer de pulmón. La Reducción Catalítica Selectiva (SCR) ha demostrado ser una tecnología eficaz para la reducción de este contaminante en particular. A través de una inyección de una Solución de Urea-Agua, junto con la energía térmica de los gases de escape, se genera una cantidad suficiente de NH 3 capaz de neutralizar los indeseados NOx en un catalizador de reducción. Con la inclusión de los SCR en automóviles ligeros además de su presencia tradicional en automóviles pesados, los SCR han sido el foco de la comunidad científica para mejorar el entendimiento de su principio de actuación, y mejorar su eficiencia en un entorno legislativo en el que los limites de emisión se han estrechado enormemente. Esta Tesis intenta ser parte de ese esfuerzo científico en caracterizar el proceso de inyección de UWS en su totalidad a través de un entorno computacional. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo proveer de un mejor entendimiento del proceso de atomización y degradación sufrido por los chorros de UWS. Las dinámicas no estacionarias que se dan lugar en la zonas cercana del chorro, añadido a la gran influencia de las características internas del inyector sobre el desarrollo del spray hacen que los métodos experimentales sean complicados para poder entender dicho proceso. Por otro lado, la Mecánica de Fluidos Computacional (CFD) presenta una alternativa. Para el propósito de esta Tesis, el CFD ha sido utilizado para caracterizar los sprays de SCR. Se intenta desarrollar y seleccionar los modelos más apropiados a chorros de baja velocidad, y establecer un conocimiento Una vez adquiridos dichos métodos, los mecanismos principales de rotura del chorro y de degradación de la urea se han analizan. En ese sentido, el uso de técnicas experimentales podrían ser sustituídos en el futuro para esta aplicación. Los métodos CFD son validados tanto en el campo cercano como en el lejano. Para el campo cercano, el tratamiento multi-fase se lleva a cabo a través de métodos de Modelo de Mezclas, o el método Volume-Of-Fluid. A través de ellos, la caracterización hidráulica de dos reconstrucciones del inyector de UWS se lleva a cabo. Subsiguientes análisis se llevan a cabo sobre las dinámicas de rotura de la vena líquida, descubriendo que mecanismos rigen el proceso. El estudio de campo lejano usa un Discrete Droplet Model (DDM) para lidiar con las fases líquidas y gaseosas. En él, la evaporación del agua y el proceso de termólisis de la urea han sido considerados y comparados con resultados experimentales con el fin de obtener una metodología fiel para su caracterización. Todo el conocimiento adquirido se aplica más tarde a un Close-Coupled SCR, en el cual condiciones de trabajo realista han sido consideradas. Además, una herramienta llamada Maximum Entropy Principle (MEP) es presentada. Por tanto, esta Tesis aporta una metodología valiosa capaz de predecir tanto el campo cercano como el lejano de chorros de UWS de una manera precisa. / [CA] La creixent preocupació sobre el efecte de l'emissió de gasos nocius provenients the motors de Combustió Interna Alternatius (ICE) a l'atmosfera ha dut als governs de tot el planeta a limitar la quantitat d'aquestes emisions, particularment a Europa mitjant les normes EURO. La dificultat de complir aquestes limitacions ha portat a l'industria automovilística a cambiar el focus de motors d'encedut per compresió (CI) o provocat (SI) cap a la electrificació o els combustibles lliures de carbó. No obstant això, aquesta transició no es pot dur a terme de manera senzilla , mentres que els combustibles lliures de carbó como l'Hidrogen (H2 ) o l'Amoniac (NH3 ) seguirien produint contaminants como els Óxids de Nitrogen (NOx ), amb els quals n'hi ha que bregar. Estes emissions poden ser particularment nocives per a l'esser humà ja que incrementen el risc de càncer de pulmó. La Reducció Catalítica Selectiva (SCR) ha demostrat ser una tecnología eficaç per a la reducció d'este contaminant en particular. Mitjançant una injecció d'una Solució D'Urea i Aigua, junt a l'energía térmica dels gasos d'fuita, es pot generar una quantitat suficiente de NH 3 capaç de neutralitzar els indesitjats NO x a un catalitzador de reducció. Amb l'inclusió dels SCR en automòvils lleugers a més de la seua tradicional presència en automòvils pesats, els SCR han segut el foc per a mijorar l'enteniment del seu principi d'actuació, i mijorar la seua eficiencia. Este estudi té como a objectiu proveir d'un mijor entenement del procés d'atomizació y degradació patit pels dolls de UWS. Les dinàmiques no estacionaries que es donen lloc en la zona propenca al doll, afegit a la gran influència de les característiques internes del injector sobre el desentroll de l'esprai, fan que els métods experimentals siguen complicats d'aplicar per entendre dit procés. Per un altre costat, la Mecànica de Fluïts Computacional (CFD) supon una alternativa que té certes avantatges. Per al propòsit d'esta Tesi, el CFD ha sigut utilitzat com la principal metodología per a caracteritzar elsesprais de SCR. Per mitjà de dits métodes, la Tesi vol desentrollar i seleccionar els models més apropiats que mitjos s'adapten a sprays de baixa velocitat, i establir un coneiximent per a posteriors estudis desentrollats sobre la mateixa temàtica. Una volta adquirits dits métodes, els mecanismes principals de trencament del doll, així com els de degradació de l'urea en amoníac s'analitzaran. En aquest sentit, l'us de técniques experimentals podría no ser utilitzat més en el futur per aquesta aplicació.Els métods CFD son aplicats i validats tant el el camp propenc com en el llunyà. Per al camp propenc, el tractament multi-component es porta a terme a través de métodes Eulerians-Eulerians, com el Model de Mescles, o el métode Volume-Of-Fluid. La caracterització hidràulica de dos reconstruccions de l'injector es porta a terme, els resultats del qual són comparats amb resultats experimentals. Subsegüents anàlisis es porten a terme sobre les dinàmiques de trencament de la vena líquida, descobrint qué mecanismes regeixen el procés. L'estudi de camp llunyà usa un Discrete Droplet Model (DDM) per a bregar en la fase líquida i gaseosa. En ell, l'evaporació del aigua y el procés de termòlisis de l'urea han sigut considerats i comparats amb el resultats experimentals amb la finalitat d'obtindre una metodología fidel per a la seua caracterització. Tot el coneixement obtingut s'aplica més tard a un Close-Coupled SCR, en el qual condicions de treball realistes han sigut considerades. Dels resultats obtinguts dels distints estudis, una ferramenta adicional anomenada Maximum Entropy Principle (MEP),capaç de predir el fenomen d'atomització dels doll de UWS sense la necessitat de realitzar simulacions del camp propenc, es presentat. Per tant, esta Tesi aporta una metodología capaç de predir tant el camp proper como el llunyà d'una manera precisa. / [EN] The increasing awareness of the effect of emitting harmful gases from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) into the atmosphere has driven the governments across the globe to limit the amount of these emissions, par ticularly in Europe through the EURO norms. The difficulty to meet such limitations has driven the automotive industry to shift from traditional Compression Ignited (CI) or Spark Ignited (SI) engines toward electrification or carbon-free fuels. Nonetheless, this transition will not be easily done in the short and medium time frames, while carbon-free fuels such as Hydrogen (H2 ) and Ammonia (NH3 ) will keep producing certain pollutants such as Nitrogen Oxides (NOx ) which need taking care of. These emissions can be particularly hazardous for humans, increasing the risk of developing lung cancer. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is an effective technology for reducing this specific ICE contaminant. An injection of a Urea-Water Solution (UWS), together with the thermal energy of the combustion gases can generate a sufficient amount of NH 3 capable of neutralizing the unwanted NO x in a catalyst. With the fitting of SCR systems within light-duty applications, in addition to their traditional presence on heavy-duty usage, SCR has been on the focus to understand their working principle and improve their efficiency . This Thesis tries to become part of that scientific ensemble by characterizing the whole UWS injection process within a computational framework. The present research aims to provide a better understanding of the atomizing and degradation processes undergone by the UWS sprays. The transient dynamics taking place in the near-field region, added to the great influence of the inner-injector characteristics on the development of the spray make experimental approaches on such sprays challenging in providing such knowledge. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) provide an alternative that has certain advantages. For this Thesis they have been adopted as the main methodology on characterizing SCR sprays. The Thesis tries to develop and select the appropriate models that best suit low-velocity sprays. With the suitable methods that best predict these sprays, the main jet breakup mechanisms, together with the urea-to-ammonia transformation will have their behavior analyzed. In that way, experimental techniques could be avoided for such applications. CFD is applied and validated both in the near-field and far-field regions. For the near-field, multi-component flows are treated through Eulerian-Eulerian such as the Mixture Model or the Volume-Of-Fluid method. Through them, a hydraulic characterization on two recon structions of the UWS injector is performed, with results compared with experimental data. Further analysis is done on the jet-to-droplet dynamics, assessing which mechanisms drove the process. The far-field analy sis uses a Discrete Droplet Model (DDM) for dealing with the gas and liquid phases. In it, the evaporation of water and the thermolysis process of the urea have been considered and again compared with experimental results to have a faithful methodology for its characterization. All the acquired knowledge has been later applied to a commercial Close-Coupled SCR, in which real-working conditions have been considered. From the results obtained from several studies, an additional tool called Maximum Entropy Principle (MEP), capable of predicting the UWS spray atomization phenomenon without the need to perform near-field simulations, has been provided. Accordingly, this Thesis provides a valuable methodology capable of predicting the near-field and far-field dynamics accurately thanks to its validation against experimental results from literature. Additionally, the MEP tool can be used independently for computational and experimental works to predict the performance of UWS atomizers.The work carried out presents a significant leap in the application of CFD tools in predicting low-velocity sprays. / Javier Marco Gimeno has been founded through a grant from the Government of Generalitat Valenciana with reference ACIF/2020/259 and financial support from the European Union. These same institutions, Government of Generalitat Valenciana and The European Union, supported through a grant for pre-doctoral stays out of the Comunitat Valenciana with reference CIBEFP/2021/11 the research carried out during the stay at Energy Systems, Argonne National Laboratory, United States of America. / Marco Gimeno, J. (2023). Computational study of Formation and Development of Liquid Jets in Low Injection Pressure Conditions. Focus on urea-water solution injection for exhaust gas aftertreatment [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/198699