Numerical modeling and experimental measurements of water spray impact and transport over a cylinder

This study compares experimental measurements and numerical simulations of liquid droplets over heated (to a near surface temperature of 423 K) and unheated cylinders. The numerical model is based on an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) formulation using a stochastic separated flow (SSF) approach for the droplets that includes submodels for droplet dispersion, heat and mass transfer, and impact on a solid surface. The details of the droplet impact model are presented and the model is used to simulate water spray impingement on a cylinder. Computational results are compared with experimental measurements using phase Doppler interferometry (PDI). Overall, good agreement is observed between predictions and experimental measurements of droplet mean size and velocity downstream of the cylinder.     

Numerical study on the dynamics of droplet passing through a cylinder obstruction in confined microchannel flow

The droplet dynamics passing through a cylinder obstruction was investigated with direct numerical simulations with FE-FTM (Finite Element-Front Tracking Method). The effect of droplet size and capillary number (Ca) was studied for both Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids. In the case of Newtonian droplet immersed in Newtonian medium, the droplet breakup induced by the geometric hindrance depends on the droplet size. As Ca increases, the short droplets (1.3 times longer than the channel width) break up while passing through the obstruction. However, the breakup does not occur for longer droplets (1.8 times longer than the channel width). When the viscoelastic fluid characterized by the Oldroyd-B model is considered, the Newtonian droplet immersed in viscoelastic medium breaks up into two smaller droplets while passing through the cylinder obstruction with increasing De_m (Deborah number of the medium). We also show that the normal stress difference plays a key role on the droplet breakup and the droplet extension. The normal stress difference is enhanced in the negative wake region due to the droplet flow, which also promotes droplet extension in that region. This numerical study provides information not only on underlying physics of the droplet flows passing through a cylinder obstruction but also on the useful guidelines for microfluidic applications.     

Modelling spray impingement using linear stability theories for droplet shattering

This paper compares several linear‐theory‐based models for droplet shattering employed for simulations of spray impingement on flat wall surface or a circular cylinder. Numerical simulations are conducted using a stochastic separated flow (SSF) technique that includes sub‐models for droplet dynamics and impact. Results for spray impingement over a flat wall indicate that the linear theory applicable for a single droplet impact over‐predicts the number of satellite (or secondary) droplets upon shattering when compared to experimental data. The causes for the observed discrepancies are discussed. Numerical simulation results for spray impingement over a circular cylinder in cross flow are obtained and discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On simulations investigating droplet diameter–charge distributions in electrostatically atomized dielectric liquid sprays

A general procedure has been developed for the simulation of charged liquid and electrostatically atomized sprays. The procedure follows a Lagrangian approach for simulation of spray droplets and a Eulerian approach for gas‐phase variables, including the electric field generated by the charge presence on droplets. Validation of the procedure was examined through simulations of previously published charged spray experiments. Results showed that for the specification of initial droplet charge, modelling the droplet charge–diameter relationship through a scaling law is as reliable a method as using a directly obtained charge–diameter relationship from experimental measurements. The normalized root‐mean‐square errors for sprays using the two methods were shown to be within 12% of one another, for the prediction of spatially averaged profiles of mean droplet diameters, mean axial velocities and mean radial droplet velocities. Results showed that the general spatial characteristics and dynamics of a charged liquid spray can successfully be reproduced, including the axial and radial dispersal pattern of droplets and the distribution of mean droplet diameters throughout the spray plume. For all sprays with droplet charges defined through a scaling law relationship, the normalized root‐mean‐square errors range from 9.0% to 31.6% for mean droplet diameters, 10.4% to 67.9% for mean axial droplet velocities and 16.8% to 38.6% for mean radial droplet velocities. Lastly, we present a brief set of general recommendations for simulating electrostatically atomized dielectric liquid sprays.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculating liquid droplets settling on a cylinder in gas-liquid spray flow

Adding atomized liquid to air flowing around a cylinder gives an appreciable increase in heat transfer by forming a liquid film on the cylinder surface. The heat transfer coefficient depends upon the amount of liquid forming the film, which is limited by two phenomena: droplet deflection from the liquid film on the surface and droplets not striking the cylinder. This paper presents a method of calculating the quantity of liquid droplets settling on a cylinder surface in a gas-liquid spray flow. A coefficient $\text{k}$, the volume ratio of the liquid entering the film to the amount of liquid directed at the cylinder, is introduced. $\text{k}$ values were calculated by means of numerical computation and the theory verified experimentally. The calculation method permits estimation of the dependence of the amount of liquid settling on a cylinder on the droplet diameter distribution parameters and on the linear gas velocity     

Impaction of spray droplets on leaves: influence of formulation and leaf character on shatter,bounce and adhesion

This paper combines experimental data with simple mathematical models to investigate the influence of spray formulation type and leaf character (wettability) on shatter, bounce and adhesion of droplets impacting with cotton, rice and wheat leaves. Impaction criteria that allow for different angles of the leaf surface and the droplet impact trajectory are presented; their predictions are based on whether combinations of droplet size and velocity lie above or below bounce and shatter boundaries. In the experimental component, real leaves are used, with all their inherent natural variability. Further, commercial agricultural spray nozzles are employed, resulting in a range of droplet characteristics. Given this natural variability, there is broad agreement between the data and predictions. As predicted, the shatter of droplets was found to increase as droplet size and velocity increased, and the surface became harder to wet. Bouncing of droplets occurred most frequently on hard-to-wet surfaces with high-surface-tension mixtures. On the other hand, a number of small droplets with low impact velocity were observed to bounce when predicted to lie well within the adhering regime. We believe this discrepancy between the predictions and experimental data could be due to air layer effects that were not taken into account in the current bounce equations. Other discrepancies between experiment and theory are thought to be due to the current assumption of a dry impact surface, whereas, in practice, the leaf surfaces became increasingly covered with fluid throughout the spray test runs.     

The Motion Behavior of a Group of Charged Droplets in Liquid-Liquid Electrostatic Spray

The droplet sizes and electrical charges under different applied electrical voltages are experimentally measured for a liquid-liquid electrostatic spray system. Considering droplet size and charge distributions, the two-dimensional motion for a group of charged droplets in a liquid-liquid electrostatic atomization system is simulated. From measured droplet size and charge distributions, the simulation can obtain the velocities and positions in a two-dimensional domain for all simulated droplets at different times. The various forces acting on droplet as well as their effects on droplet velocity and trajectory are analyzed and the liquid-liquid electrostatic atomization characteristics are revealed. In addition, for one-dimensional motion trajectory of larger droplet, the comparison between simulation and experiment is also conducted and a general agreement can be obtained.     

激光驱动液滴迁移的机理研究

液滴热毛细迁移是微重力流体科学中的典型科学问题, 微重力液滴动力学研究不仅具有流体力学的理论意义, 而且具有重要的实际应用价值. 建立了二维轴对称激光驱动液滴迁移模型, 通过仿真计算研究微重力环境下激光驱动液滴迁移的过程, 研究了液滴直径、母液参数等对液滴迁移速度及行为的影响. 首先研究了母液和液滴对激光系数均较小, 液滴初始位置不同时液滴的迁移行为; 然后研究了母液对激光吸收系数较小, 液滴对激光吸收系数较大时, 不同液滴直径与母液宽度比条件下液滴的迁移行为. 仿真结果表明: 当母液和液滴对激光的吸收系数都很小时, 液滴迁移的方向主要受到液滴初始位置的影响; 当母液对激光的吸收系数较小, 液滴对激光的吸收系数较大时, 液滴会朝激光方向迁移, 液滴初始位置对迁移方向影响较小, 但液滴直径与母液宽度之比会影响液滴迁移行为. 将模拟结果与YGB理论对比, 仿真结果与理论结果趋势一致. 研究激光驱动液滴迁移的物理机制, 探索界面张力作用机理, 得到激光驱动液滴迁移的规律, 探索对液滴的驱动控制方法.      

Retraction and Adhesion of a Single Droplet Normal Impact on the Solid Surface

The impact behavior of individual biomass oil droplets was investigated on solid surfaces having different structures (flat, cylindrical, and spherical) using the high-speed video technique. This makes it possible to compare the evolution of the droplet impact on various surface structures. The impact behaviors of retraction–oscillation and adhesion are analyzed for different hydrophobic surfaces. The influence of the Weber number (We), the surface structure, and the surface curvature is further examined by focusing on the retraction and stable adhesion (thickness, adhesion, and contact angle) for different biomass oil droplets. The results show that the retraction factor gradually increases as We increases to some critical value, beyond which the increase rate slows down or the retraction factor begins to decrease. The largest retraction factor is observed on the flat surface and the smallest one appears on the spherical surface. The adhesion thickness of the liquid film oscillates periodically over time, and its oscillation amplitude gradually decreases with a constant frequency, which is smaller for the more hydrophobic surfaces. The curvatures of the cylinder and sphere have little influence on the stable adhesion behavior. For the different droplet types, the adhesion diameter on the flat surface gradually increases as We rises, whereas the adhesion thickness gradually decreases with increase in We. These results are helpful for understanding the impact behaviors of biomass oil droplets with high viscosity and small surface tension on solid surfaces.

     

Modelling impingement of hollow metal droplets onto a flat surface

Despite many theoretical and experimental works dealing with the impact of dense melt droplets on the substrate during the process of thermal spray coating, the dynamics of the impingement of hollow melt droplet and the subsequent splat formation are not well addressed. In this paper a model study for the dynamic impingement of hollow droplet is presented. The hollow droplet is modelled such that it consists of a liquid shell enclosing a gas cavity. The impingement model considers the transient flow dynamics during impact, spreading and solidification of the droplet using the volume of fluid surface tracking method (VOF) coupled with a solidification model within a one-domain continuum formulation. The results for spreading, solidification and formation of splats clearly show that the impingement process of hollow droplet is distinctly different from the dense droplet. Study with different droplet void fractions and void distribution indicates that void fraction and void distribution have a significant influence on the flow dynamics during impact and on the final splat shape. The results are likely to provide insights for the less-explored behaviour of hollow melt droplets in thermal spray coating processes.     

Performance of slotted pores in particle manufacture using rotating membrane emulsification

This paper addresses the use of different slotted pores in rotating membrane emulsification technology. Pores of square and rectangular shapes were studied to understand the effect of aspect ratio （1-3.5） and their orientation on oil droplet formation. Increasing the membrane rotation speed decreased the droplet size, and the oil droplets produced were more uniform using slotted pores as compared to circular geometry. At a given rotation speed, the droplet size was mainly determined by the pore size and the fluid velocity of oil through the pore （pore fluid velocity）. The ratio of droplet diameter to the equivalent diameter of the slotted pore increased with the pore fluid velocity. At a given pore fluid velocity and rotation speed, pore orientation significantly influences the droplet formation rate： horizontally disposed pores （with their longer side perpendicular to the membrane axis） generate droplets at double the rate of vertically disposed pores. This work indicates practical benefits in the use of slotted membranes over conventional methods.     

Performance of slotted pores in particle manufacture using rotating membrane emulsification

This paper addresses the use of different slotted pores in rotating membrane emulsification technology.Pores of square and rectangular shapes were studied to understand the effect of aspect ratio (1-3.5) and their orientation on oil droplet formation.Increasing the membrane rotation speed decreased the droplet size,and the oil droplets produced were more uniform using slotted pores as compared to circular geometry.At a given rotation speed,the droplet size was mainly determined by the pore size and the fluid velocity of oil through the pore (pore fluid velocity).The ratio of droplet diameter to the equivalent diameter of the slotted pore increased with the pore fluid velocity.At a given pore fluid velocity and rotation speed,pore orientation significantly influences the droplet formation rate: horizontally disposed pores (with their longer side perpendicular to the membrane axis) generate droplets at double the rate of vertically disposed pores.This work indicates practical benefits in the use of slotted membranes over conventional methods.     

Droplet size and velocity characteristics of water-air impinging jet atomizer

A water-air impinging jets atomizer is investigated in this study, which consists of flow visualization using high speed photography and mean droplet size and velocity distribution measurements of the spray using Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA). Topological structures and break up details of the generated spray in the far and near fields are presented with and without air jet and for an impinging angle of 90°. Spray angle increases with the water jet velocity, air flow rate and impinging angle. PDA results indicate that droplet size is smallest in the spray center, with minimum value of Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of 50 µm at the air flow rate of Q_m = 13.50 g/min. SMD of droplets increases towards the spray outer region gradually to about 120 µm. The mean droplet velocity component W along the air-jet axis is highest in the spray center and decreases gradually with increasing distance from the spray center. SMD normalized by the air nozzle diameter is found firstly to decrease with gas-to-liquid mass ratio (GLR) and air-to-liquid momentum ratio (ALMR) and then remain almost constant. Its increasing with aerodynamic Weber number indicates an exponential variation. The study sheds light on the performance of water-air impinging jets atomizers providing useful information for future CFD simulation works.     

Accurate analysis of multicomponent fuel spray evaporation in turbulent flow

The aim of this paper is to perform an accurate analysis of the evaporation of single component and binary mixture fuels sprays in a hot weakly turbulent pipe flow by means of experimental measurement and numerical simulation. This gives a deeper insight into the relationship between fuel composition and spray evaporation. The turbulence intensity in the test section is equal to 10%, and the integral length scale is three orders of magnitude larger than the droplet size while the turbulence microscale (Kolmogorov scales) is of same order as the droplet diameter. The spray produced by means of a calibrated droplet generator was injected in a gas flow electrically preheated. N-nonane, isopropanol, and their mixtures were used in the tests. The generalized scattering imaging technique was applied to simultaneously determine size, velocity, and spatial location of the droplets carried by the turbulent flow in the quartz tube. The spray evaporation was computed using a Lagrangian particle solver coupled to a gas-phase solver. Computations of spray mean diameter and droplet size distributions at different locations along the pipe compare very favorably with the measurement results. This combined research tool enabled further investigation concerning the influencing parameters upon the evaporation process such as the turbulence, droplet internal mixing, and liquid-phase thermophysical properties.     

Producing droplets smaller than the nozzle diameter by using a pneumatic drop-on-demand droplet generator

A pneumatic droplet generator to produce water/glycerin droplets smaller than the nozzle diameter is described. The generator consists of a T-junction with a nozzle fit into one opening, the second opening connected to a gas cylinder through a solenoid valve and the third connected to a length of steel tubing. The droplet generator is filled with liquid. Opening the valve for a preset time creates a pulse of alternating negative and positive pressure in the gas above the surface of the liquid, ejecting a single droplet through the nozzle. Droplet formation was photographed and the pressure variation in the droplet generator recorded. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as nozzle size, pressure pulse width and liquid properties on droplet formation was investigated. Small droplets could not be generated when liquid viscosity was too low or too high. For pure water, droplet diameters were several times that of the nozzle. Using more viscous glycerin mixtures, droplets with diameters as small as 65% of the nozzle diameter could be produced.     

Third-Order Upwind Finite Element Simulation of Flow Around Two Square Cylinders

The aerodynamic behavior of the flow around two square cylinders is presented on the basis of the numerical simulation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using a third-order upwind finite element scheme. It is well known that flow patterns around the two square cylinders are more complicated than flow patterns around one square cylinder because of interference between the Karman vortices behind the two square cylinders. In this paper, two kinds of cylinder arrangements are chosen as computational models. One type is that of two square cylinders arranged vertically to the direction of a uniform flow, and the other is arranged horizontally to the direction of a uniform flow.     

Numerical investigation on flow around circular cylinders in tandem arrangement at a subcritical Reynolds number

Three-dimensional fluid computations have been performed to investigate the flows around two circular cylinders in tandem arrangements at a subcritical Reynolds number, Re=2.2×10⁴. The center-to-center space between the cylinders was varied from twice the cylinder diameter to five times that, and the flows and fluid-dynamic forces obtained from the simulations are compared with the experimental results reported in the literature. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of the vortices shed from the upstream cylinder such as the convection, the impingement onto the downstream cylinder and the interaction with the vortices from the downstream cylinder. The effects of the vortices from the upstream cylinder on the fluid-dynamic forces acting on the downstream cylinder are discussed.     

Evaporation of a droplet larger than the Kolmogorov length scale immersed in a relative mean flow

An experimental effort to understand the contribution of turbulence to the evaporation rate of fuel droplets has been performed with particular attention to conditions when the turbulence scale is smaller than the droplet diameter. N-heptane has been chosen as working fluid to give measurable evaporation rates from droplet images over relatively short experiment times. An active turbulence grid wind tunnel is built for the requirements of this experiment. A camera triggered by a pulse generator takes images of the droplets pinned on wires across the tunnel. The results show a small increase in evaporation rate with increasing turbulence intensity, and that mean flow around the droplets has more impact on evaporation than does the turbulence state.     

Measurements of droplet size in shear-driven atomization using ultra-small angle x-ray scattering

Measurements of droplet size in optically-thick, non-evaporating, shear-driven sprays have been made using ultra-small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS). The sprays are produced by orifice-type nozzles coupled to diesel injectors, with measurements conducted from 1 – 24 mm from the orifice, spanning from the optically-dense near-nozzle region to more dilute regions where optical diagnostics are feasible. The influence of nozzle diameter, liquid injection pressure, and ambient density were examined. The USAXS measurements reveal few if any nanoscale droplets, in conflict with a popular computational model of diesel spray breakup. The average droplet diameter rapidly decreases with downstream distance from the nozzle until a plateau value is reached, after which only small changes are seen in droplet diameter. This plateau droplet size is consistent with the droplets being small enough to be stable with respect to further breakup. Liquid injection pressure and nozzle diameter have the biggest impact on droplet size, while ambient density has a smaller effect.     

正方形排列四圆柱体绕流特性及互扰效应研究

基于计算流体动力学理论,运用大涡模拟方法对雷诺数Re=3900三维正方形排列四圆柱体结构群的绕流问题进行数值计算,主要分析来流攻角与间距比两个参数对四圆柱体结构群流体参数及流场模态的影响。结果表明:来流攻角与间距比均对四圆柱体结构群绕流特性有较强的影响;来流攻角θ=0°、22.5°、45°下,临界间距比分别为3.5、4.0、3.0;间距比的变化会导致下游圆柱表面压力系数分布发生改变;另一方面,间距比较小时,四圆柱体结构之间的互扰作用均以临近效应为主;随间距比增大,上游圆柱尾流对下游圆柱有显著影响,其互扰作用会转变尾激效应。