Experimental study of the breakup characteristics and droplet characteristics of centrifugal atomization

Abstract

This study delves into the dynamics of centrifugal atomization, a phenomenon with wide-ranging applications, from aerospace fuel systems to agricultural sprayers and chemical reactors. We aim to uncover the mechanisms of jet disintegration in rotating environments, offering insights to enhance performance and efficiency across various industries. An experimental rig was designed to capture the breakup dynamics of rotating jets. Using high-speed photography, we observed that when rotated jets experience varying radial and axial pressure differences depending on the operating conditions. These differences notably affect the breakup process and droplet distribution. Our key findings include that, as the Weber number for the liquid (We_t) increases, breakup becomes more pronounced, leading to shorter breakup lengths and uniformly sized droplets, often transforming a bimodal droplet distribution into an unimodal one. In contrast, changes in the Weber number based on the orifice size (We_o) had a lesser impact on droplet patterns, with larger We_o values resulting in longer breakup distances. Additionally, a decrease in the size of the orifice shortened the break-up distance and shifted the droplet sizes from the bimodal to the unimodal distribution. These results illuminate the influence of operational parameters on jet breakup characteristics, highlighting the potential for optimizing droplet distribution through precise parameter adjustment. Our study advances the understanding of centrifugal atomization, promising to enhance the design and efficacy of industrial and commercial systems that rely on controlled fluid atomization.