Abstract In this study, a model flame of quasi-one-dimensional (1D) counterflow spray flame has been developed. The two-dimensional (2D) multiphase convection-diffusion-reaction equations have been simplified to one dimension using similarity reduction under the Eulerian framework. This model flame is able to directly account for nonadiabatic heat loss, preferential evaporation, as well as multiple combustion regimes present in realistic spray combustion processes. A spray flamelet library was generated based on the model flame. To retrieve data from the spray flamelet library, the enthalpy was used as an additional controlling variable to represent the interphase heat transfer, while the mixing and chemical reaction processes were mapped to the mixture fraction and the progress variable. The spray flamelet generated manifolds (SFGM) approach was validated against the results from the direct integration of finite rate chemistry as a benchmark. The SFGM approach was found to give a better performance in terms of predictions of temperature and species mass fractions.