Effect of the nozzle arrangement of atomization equipment in icing cloud simulation system on the velocity field of water droplets and liquid water content distribution

The study of reproducing high altitude icing environment based on the icing cloud simulation system has gradually become a concern for researchers. They found that the parameters of water droplets were one of the most critical factors affecting the state of icing. However, the influence of nozzle arrangement on droplet parameters in the icing cloud simulation system is usually neglected. By reprogramming the software FLUENT, this study carried out a simulation analysis on the influence of nozzle arrangement in the icing cloud simulation system. Four user-defined functions were added to FLUENT to modify the vaporization law, so as to get more accurate results. A model of the atomization equipment in an ice cloud simulation system was developed and successfully validated with the parameter of ice shape and maximum ice thickness on the test rod. The error of maximum ice thickness is only 2.6%, and the maximum deviation and mean deviation are 1.13 mm and 0.68 mm, respectively. The homogeneity of water droplet distribution is proposed and defined, and the calculation method of the degree of homogeneity for water droplet distribution is given. The most reasonable nozzle arrangement in this study with the maximum degree of homogeneity of 78.32% and a spreading area of 14.67% of the total cross-section area is determined. This study shows certain reference significance for realizing a more uniform velocity field of water droplets and liquid water content distribution in the future.