Droplet size distribution measurment

Merkus HG, Marijnissen JCM, Jansma HL, Scarlett B (1994) Droplet size distribution measurements for medical nebulizers by the forward light scattering technique ( laser diffraction ). J Aerosol Sci 25(Suppl 1) 319... 

The impact of droplet size was studied with a pilot scale spray dryer in order to investigate the influence of droplet size on the morphology of spray dried mannitol carrier particles irrespective of the size and drying capacity of the spray tower. Three different atomisers as mentioned in Sect. 2.2.1 were used to generate droplets of approximately 20, 50 and 130 pm. Table 14.3 gives the droplet size distributions measured in an offline laser diffraction system. The Caldyn nozzle shows the smallest mean droplet sizes with X5o,3 = 19.1 pm, followed by the Niro rotary atomiser with X50.3 =48.9 pm and the LamRot with X50.3 = 130.2 pm. Width of size distribution decreases in the same order [31, 49]. 

A Malvern Mastersizer (Malvern Instruments Ltd, Malvern, UK) with optical parameters defined by the manufacturer s presentation code 0505 was used to determine the droplet size distribution. The measurement was made in triplicate at room temperature. Water was used to disperse the emulsion droplets. 

In terms of measuring emulsion microstructure, ultrasonics is complementary to NMRI in that it is sensitive to droplet flocculation [54], which is the aggregation of droplets into clusters, or floes, without the occurrence of droplet fusion, or coalescence, as described earlier. Flocculation is an emulsion destabilization mechanism because it disrupts the uniform dispersion of discrete droplets. Furthermore, flocculation promotes creaming in the emulsion, as large clusters of droplets separate rapidly from the continuous phase, and also promotes coalescence, because droplets inside the clusters are in close contact for long periods of time. Ideally, a full characterization of an emulsion would include NMRI measurements of droplet size distributions, which only depend on the interior dimensions of the droplets and therefore are independent of flocculation, and also ultrasonic spectroscopy, which can characterize flocculation properties. 

The flow artifacts detected in the droplet size measurements are similar to those reported by Goux et al. [79] and Mohoric and Stepisnik [80]. In their work natural convection effects led to an increase in the decay of signal attenuation curves, causing over-prediction in the self-diffusion coefficient of pure liquids. In order to avoid flow effects in droplet size distributions, flow compensating pulse sequences such as the double PGSTE should be used. It has been demonstrated recently that this sequence facilitates droplet size measurements in pipe flows [81]. 

Studies of flow-induced coalescence are possible with the methods described here. Effects of flow conditions and emulsion properties, such as shear rate, initial droplet size, viscosity and type of surfactant can be investigated in detail. Recently developed, fast (3-10 s) [82, 83] PFG NMR methods of measuring droplet size distributions have provided nearly real-time droplet distribution curves during evolving flows such as emulsification [83], Studies of other destabilization mechanisms in emulsions such as creaming and flocculation can also be performed. 

Spatially-resolved measurement of the droplet size distribution can be accomplished by the implementation of velocity compensated pulse sequences, such as the double PGSTE [81] in a spatially resolved imaging sequence. Accurate measurements of spatially resolved droplet size distributions during flow and mixing of emulsions would provide truly unique information regarding flow effects on the spatial distribution of droplets. 

G. J. W. Goudappel, J. P. M. van Duyn-hoven, M. M. W. Mooren 2001, (Measurement of oil droplet size distributions in food oil/water emulsions by time domain pulsed field gradient NMR), /. Colloid Interface Sci. 239, 535. 

Sprays of fine droplets can be generated by first mixing a liquid with liquefied gas under pressure and then expanding the mixture through a nozzle. This technique, referred to ssliquefied gas atomization, has been used in many applications such as commercial aerosol cans. The mean droplet size generated with this technique is very small. In very few systematic studies, the measured droplet size distribution was found rather widely spread.[881 It is not clear, however, how the liquid amount, pressure, and nozzle design affect the mean droplet size and size distribution. 

Wu, Ruff and Faethl249 made an extensive review of previous theories and correlations for droplet size after primary breakup, and performed an experimental study of primary breakup in the nearnozzle region for various relative velocities and various liquid properties. Their experimental measurements revealed that the droplet size distribution after primary breakup and prior to any secondary breakup satisfies Simmons universal root-normal distribution 264]. In this distribution, a straight line can be generated by plotting (Z)/MMD)°5 vs. cumulative volume of droplets on a normal-probability scale, where MMD is the mass median diameter of droplets. The slope of the straight line is specified by the ratio... 

Mathematical representation of droplet size distribution has been developed to describe entire droplet size distribution based on limited samples of droplet size measurements. This can overcome some drawbacks associated with the graphical representation and make the comparison and correlation of experimental results easier. A number of mathematical functions and empirical equations1423 427 for droplet size distributions have been proposed on the basis of... 

To characterize a droplet size distribution, at least two parameters are typically necessary, i.e., a representative droplet diameter, (for example, mean droplet size) and a measure of droplet size range (for example, standard deviation or q). Many representative droplet diameters have been used in specifying distribution functions. The definitions of these diameters and the relevant relationships are summarized in Table 4.2. These relationships are derived on the basis of the Rosin-Rammler distribution function (Eq. 14), and the diameters are uniquely related to each other via the distribution parameter q in the Rosin-Rammler distribution function. Lefebvre 1 calculated the values of these diameters for q ranging from 1.2 to 4.0. The calculated results showed that Dpeak is always larger than SMD, and SMD is between 80% and 84% of Dpeak for many droplet generation processes for which 2left-hand side of Dpeak. The ratio MMD/SMD is... 

The studies on the performance of effervescent atomizer have been very limited as compared to those described above. However, the results of droplet size measurements made by Lefebvre et al.t87] for the effervescent atomizer provided insightful information about the effects of process parameters on droplet size. Their analysis of the experimental data suggested that the atomization quality by the effervescent atomizer is generally quite high. Better atomization may be achieved by generating small bubbles. Droplet size distribution may follow the Rosin-Rammler distribution pattern with the parameter q ranging from 1 to 2 for a gas to liquid ratio up to 0.2, and a liquid injection pressure from 34.5 to 345 kPa. The mean droplet size decreases with an increase in the gas to liquid ratio and/or liquid injection pressure. Any factor that tends to impair atomization quality, and increase the mean droplet size (for example, decreasing gas to liquid ratio and/or injection pressure) also leads to a more mono-disperse spray. 

Electrical methods involve the detection and analysis of electronic pulses generated by droplets in a measurement volume or on a wire. The electronic signals are then converted into digital data and calibrated to produce information on droplet size distribution. A detailed review of electrical methods for droplet size measurements has been made by Jones.[657]... 

The Malvern particle sizer is one of the most widely used, most effective, simple, and reliable methods commercially available for rapid measurements of ensemble characteristics of a spray. It is able to handle high droplet concentrations. It is easy to use and does not require comprehensive knowledge of its basic principles for operation. The primary advantage of the system is the speed of data acquisition and analysis. In addition, measurements of droplet size distributions can be made at any droplet velocities due to the fact that the diffraction patterns generated by droplets are independent of the... 

Korobochka and Pavlenko 705 proposed a simple model and nozzle design for the determination of exact droplet size distribution generated by an air-assist nozzle. The approach enables the direct measurements of droplet size and allows generation of a very narrow range of droplet size distribution. 

To test the reliability of the previous method, the authors compared it to an independent measurement of oj. They thus propose an extended version of the previous mean-fleld model, valid at any stage of the coalescence regime, even in presence of broad droplet size distributions. It is obtained by considering that the variation of the total number of coalescence events is proportional to the total surface area per unit volume developed by the droplets of different sizes. The total number of drops and total surface are replaced by summations over all the granulometric size intervals ... 

This equation reflects the possibility to measure [3,0] and Dg, both diameters being directly deduced from the experimental droplet size distributions. Of course, this procedure is to be applied at long times, that is, in the regime governed by coalescence ( >j > D ). In Fig. 5.7, it appears that CO exhibits a regular decrease with time. 

It is probable that numerous interfacial parameters are involved (surface tension, spontaneous curvature, Gibbs elasticity, surface forces) and differ from one system to the other, according the nature of the surfactants and of the dispersed phase. Only systematic measurements of > will allow going beyond empirics. Besides the numerous fundamental questions, it is also necessary to measure practical reason, which is predicting the emulsion lifetime. This remains a serious challenge for anyone working in the field of emulsions because of the polydisperse and complex evolution of the droplet size distribution. Finally, it is clear that the mean-field approaches adopted to measure > are acceptable as long as the droplet polydispersity remains quite low (P < 50%) and that more elaborate models are required for very polydisperse systems to account for the spatial fiuctuations in the droplet distribution. 

Alkezweeny, A. J., D. A. Burrows, and C. A. Grainger, Measurements of Cloud-Droplet-Size Distributions in Polluted and Unpolluted Stratiform Clouds, J. Appl. Meteorol., 32, 106-115 (1993). 

Baeckstroem K, Nilsson PG. Measurements of droplet size distributions from metered dose inhalers with different vapor pressures and contents of surfactant. J Aerosol Sci 1988 19(7) 1097-1100. 

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