Mean droplet size

This formula for estimating droplet size was determined experimentally. Of the various terms, the first is the most important for small values of V. As V becomes small, the second term gains in importance. Unless the density or viscosity of the sample solution changes markedly from the values for water, mean droplet size can be estimated approximately by using the corresponding values for water, as shown. 

Effect of Variables on Mean Droplet Size. Some of the principal variables affecting the mean droplet diameters for pressure swid atomizers may be expressed by equation 14. 

Equation 14 indicates that Hquid pressure has a dominant effect in controlling the mean droplet sizes for pressure atomizers. The higher the Hquid pressure, the finer the droplets are. An increase in Hquid viscosity generally results in a coarser spray. The effect of Hquid surface tension usually diminishes with an increase in Hquid pressure. At a given Hquid pressure, the mean droplet size typically increases with an increase in flow capacity. High capacity atomizers require larger orifices and therefore produce larger droplets. 

Most studies indicate that air velocity has a profound influence on mean droplet size in twin-fluid atomizers. Generally, the droplet size is inversely proportional to the atomizing air velocity. However, the relative velocity between the Hquid and air stream is more important than the absolute air velocity. 

Both effects can produce coarser atomization. However, the influence of Hquid viscosity on atomization appears to diminish for high Reynolds or Weber numbers. Liquid surface tension appears to be the only parameter independent of the mode of atomization. Mean droplet size increases with increasing surface tension in twin-fluid atomizers (34). is proportional to CJ, where the exponent n varies between 0.25 and 0.5. At high values of Weber number, however, drop size is nearly proportional to surface tension. 

Because of the complexity of designs and performance characteristics, it is difficult to select the optimum atomizer for a given appHcation. The best approach is to consult and work with atomizer manufacturers. Their technical staffs are familiar with diverse appHcations and can provide valuable assistance. However, they will usually require the foUowing information properties of the Hquid to be atomized, eg, density, viscosity, and surface tension operating conditions, such as flow rate, pressure, and temperature range required mean droplet size and size distribution desired spray pattern spray angle requirement ambient environment flow field velocity requirements dimensional restrictions flow rate tolerance material to be used for atomizer constmction cost and safety considerations. 

The nanoemulsion mean droplet sizes were much smaller than those obtained in other systems using polar oil mixtures (above 500 nm) [18]. The findings verify that the low-energy emulsification methods are valid not only for aliphatic [9,10,13, 75, 76, 79-81] and semipolar oils [82-84], as reported in most studies devoted to low-energy emulsification, but also for polar solvent-preformed polymer mixtures. These nanoemulsions show good kinetic stability at 25 °C over a period of at least 24 h,... 

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. 

Weiss and Worsham 259 indicated that the most important factor governing mean droplet size in a spray is the relative velocity between air and liquid, and droplet size distribution depends on the range of excitable wavelengths on the surface of a liquid sheet. The shorter wavelength limit is due to viscous damping, whereas the longer wavelengths are limited by inertia effects. 

It has been indicated 323 that for some distributions it is possible to find, at least, an empirical correlation between the mean droplet size and the standard deviation. Gretzinger and Marshall 102 have proposed such empirical equations relating the mean droplet size and the standard deviation for water-air system. Thus, once the mean droplet size is determined from a mathematical model, an empirical correlation, and/or experimental data, the entire droplet size distribution can be then predicted quantitatively. 

In many applications, a mean droplet size is a factor of foremost concern. Mean droplet size can be taken as a measure of the quality of an atomization process. It is also convenient to use only mean droplet size in calculations involving discrete droplets such as multiphase flow and mass transfer processes. Various definitions of mean droplet size have been employed in different applications, as summarized in Table 4.1. The concept and notation of mean droplet diameter have been generalized and standardized by Mugele and Evans.[423] The arithmetic, surface, and volume mean droplet diameter (D10, D2o, and D30) are some most common mean droplet diameters ... 

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... 

In many atomization processes, physical phenomena involved have not yet been understood to such an extent that mean droplet size could be expressed with equations derived directly from first principles, although some attempts have been made to predict droplet size and velocity distributions in sprays through maximum entropy principle.I252 432] Therefore, the correlations proposed by numerous studies on droplet size distributions are mainly empirical in nature. However, the empirical correlations prove to be a practical way to determine droplet sizes from process parameters and relevant physical properties of liquid and gas involved. In addition, these previous studies have provided insightful information about the effects of process parameters and material properties on droplet sizes. 

Various correlations for mean droplet size generated using pressure-swirl and fan spray atomizers are summarized in Tables 4.4 and 4.5, respectively. In the correlations for pressure-swirl data, FN is the Flow number defined as FN = ml/APlpl) )5, l0 and d0 are the length and diameter of final orifice, respectively, ls and ds are the length and diameter of swirl chamber, respectively, Ap is the total inlet ports area, /yds the film thickness in final orifice, 6 is the half of spray cone angle, and Weyis the Weber number estimated with film... 

Table 4.4. Correlations for Mean Droplet Size Generated by Pressure-Swirl Atomizers...

As ambient air pressure is increased, the mean droplet size increases 455 " 458] up to a maximum and then turns to decline with further increase in ambient air pressure. ] The initial rise in the mean droplet size with ambient pressure is attributed to the reduction of sheet breakup length and spray cone angle. The former leads to droplet formation from a thicker liquid sheet, and the latter results in an increase in the opportunity for droplet coalescence and a decrease in the relative velocity between droplets and ambient air due to rapid acceleration. At low pressures, these effects prevail. Since the mean droplet size is proportional to the square root of liquid sheet thickness and inversely proportional to the relative velocity, the initial rise in the mean droplet size can be readily explained. With increasing ambient pressure, its effect on spray cone angle diminishes, allowing disintegration forces become dominant. Consequently, the mean droplet size turns to decline. Since ambient air pressure is directly related to air density, most correlations include air density as a variable to facilitate applications. Some experiments 452] revealed that ambient air temperature has essentially no effect on the mean droplet size. 

The variations of the mean droplet size and the droplet size distribution with axial distance in a spray generated by pressure swirl atomizers have been shown to be a function of ambient air pressure and velocity, liquid injection pressure, and initial mean droplet size and distribution 460]... 

In fan spray atomization, the effects of process parameters on the mean droplet size are similar to those in pressure-swirl atomization. In general, the mean droplet size increases with an increase in liquid viscosity, surface tension, and/or liquid sheet thickness and length. It decreases with increasing liquid velocity, liquid density, gas density, spray angle, and/or relative velocity between liquid and surrounding air. 

Various correlations for mean droplet sizes generated by air-assist atomizers are given in Table 4.6. In these correlations, mA is the mass flow rate of air, h is the height of air annulus, tf0 is the initial film thickness defined as tj ) = dQw/dan, d0 is the outer diameter of pressure nozzle, dan is the diameter of annular gas nozzle, w is the slot width of pressure nozzle, C is a constant related to nozzle design, UA is the velocity of air, and MMDC is the modified mean droplet diameter for the conditions of droplet coalescence. Distinguishing air-assist and air-blast atomizers is often difficult. Moreover, many... 

Various correlations for mean droplet size generated by plain-jet, prefilming, and miscellaneous air-blast atomizers using air as atomization gas are listed in Tables 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, and 4.10, respectively. In these correlations, ALR is the mass flow rate ratio of air to liquid, ALR = mAlmL, Dp is the prefilmer diameter, Dh is the hydraulic mean diameter of air exit duct, vr is the kinematic viscosity ratio relative to water, a is the radial distance from cup lip, DL is the diameter of cup at lip, Up is the cup peripheral velocity, Ur is the air to liquid velocity ratio defined as U=UAIUp, Lw is the diameter of wetted periphery between air and liquid streams, Aa is the flow area of atomizing air stream, m is a power index, PA is the pressure of air, and B is a composite numerical factor. The important parameters influencing the mean droplet size include relative velocity between atomization air/gas and liquid, mass flow rate ratio of air to liquid, physical properties of liquid (viscosity, density, surface tension) and air (density), and atomizer geometry as described by nozzle diameter, prefilmer diameter, etc. 

Similarly to pressure-swirl atomization and air-assist atomization, the mean droplet size is proportional to liquid viscosity and surface tension, and inversely proportional to air velocity, air pressure, air density, relative velocity between air and liquid, and mass flow rate ratio of air to liquid, with different proportional power... 

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