Atomization breakup

Atomization breakup is mainly characterized by a liquid high-speed jet which disperses into a fine spray of many single droplets directly behind the nozzle exit. A further characteristic is the arising spray cone so that the droplet trajectory is not inevitably in line with the nozzle. The ejected droplets usually exhibit a droplet size distribution rather than a constant droplet volume. The actuation is continuous and very strong which leads to very high velocities inside the nozzle. 

Atomization. A gas or Hquid may be dispersed into another Hquid by the action of shearing or turbulent impact forces that are present in the flow field. The steady-state drop si2e represents a balance between the fluid forces tending to dismpt the drop and the forces of interfacial tension tending to oppose distortion and breakup. When the flow field is laminar the abiHty to disperse is strongly affected by the ratio of viscosities of the two phases. Dispersion, in the sense of droplet formation, does not occur when the viscosity of the dispersed phase significantly exceeds that of the dispersing medium (13). 

Internal Flow. Depending on the atomizer type and operating conditions, the internal fluid flow can involve compHcated phenomena such as flow separation, boundary layer growth, cavitation, turbulence, vortex formation, and two-phase flow. The internal flow regime is often considered one of the most important stages of Hquid a tomiza tion because it determines the initial Hquid disturbances and conditions that affect the subsequent Hquid breakup and droplet dispersion. 

Hollow-Cone Sprays. In swid atomizers, the Hquid emerges from the exit orifice ia the form of a cooical sheet. As the Hquid sheet spreads radially outward, aerodyaamic iastabiHty ioimediately takes place and leads to the formation of waves which subsequently disiategrate iato ligaments and droplets. Figure 3 illustrates the breakup process ia an annular Hquid sheet. 

Spray characteristics are those fluid dynamic parameters that can be observed or measured during Hquid breakup and dispersal. They are used to identify and quantify the features of sprays for the purpose of evaluating atomizer and system performance, for estabHshing practical correlations, and for verifying computer model predictions. Spray characteristics provide information that is of value in understanding the fundamental physical laws that govern Hquid atomization. 

During the formation of a spray, its properties vary with time and location. Depending on the atomizing system and operating conditions, variations can result from droplet dispersion, acceleration, deceleration, coUision, coalescence, secondary breakup, evaporation, entrainment, oxidation, and solidification. Therefore, it may be extremely difficult to identify the dominant physical processes that control the spray dynamics and configuration. 

Breakup in a highly turbulent field (L/velocity) ". This appears to be the dominant breakup process in distillation trays in the spray regime, pneumatic atomizers, and high-velocity pipehne contactors. 

Liquid-Sheet Breakup The basic principle of most hydraulic atomizers is to form a thin sheet that breaks via a variety of mechanisms to form ligaments of liquid which in turn yield chains of droplets. See Fig. 14-86. 

Two-Fluid (Pneumatic) Atomizers This general category includes such diverse apphcations as venturi atomizers and reac tor-effluent quench systems in addition to two-fluid spray nozzles. Depending on the manner in which the two fluids meet, several of the breakup mechanisms may be apphcable, but the final one is high-level turbulent rupture. 

As shown by Table 14-12, empirical correlations for two-fluid atomization show dependence on high gas velocity to supply atomizing energy, usually to a power dependence close to that for turbulent breakup. In addition, the correlations show a dependence on the ratio of gas to liquid and system dimension. 

The discoveries of Becquerel, Curie, and Rutherford and Rutherford s later development of the nuclear model of the atom (Section B) showed that radioactivity is produced by nuclear decay, the partial breakup of a nucleus. The change in the composition of a nucleus is called a nuclear reaction. Recall from Section B that nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons that are collectively called nucleons a specific nucleus with a given atomic number and mass number is called a nuclide. Thus, H, 2H, and lhO are three different nuclides the first two being isotopes of the same element. Nuclei that change their structure spontaneously and emit radiation are called radioactive. Often the result is a different nuclide. 

Atomization generally refers to a process in which a bulk liquid is disintegrated into small drops or droplets by internal and/or external forces as a result of the interaction between the liquid (dispersed phase) and surrounding medium (continuous phase). The term dispersed phase represents the liquid to be atomized and the atomized drops/droplets, whereas the term continuous phase refers to the medium in which the atomization occurs or by which a liquid is atomized. The disintegration or breakup occurs when the disruptive forces exceed the liquid surface tension force. The consolidating... 

Figure 3.2. Breakup regimes of round liquid jets in quiescent air. I Rayleigh Jet Breakup (Varicose Breakup) II First Wind-Induced Breakup (Sinuous Wave Breakup) III Second Wind-Induced Breakup (Wave-like Breakup with Air Friction) IV Atomization.

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