2 results
Dynamical similarity and universality of drop size and velocity spectra in sprays
- K. Dhivyaraja, D. Gaddes, E. Freeman, S. Tadigadapa, M. V. Panchagnula
-
- Journal:
- Journal of Fluid Mechanics / Volume 860 / 10 February 2019
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 December 2018, pp. 510-543
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Sprays are a class of multiphase flows which exhibit a wide range of drop size and velocity scales spanning several orders of magnitude. The objective of the current work is to experimentally investigate the prospect of dynamical similarity in these flows. We are also motivated to identify a choice of length and time scales which could lead towards a universal description of the drop size and velocity spectra. Towards this end, we have fabricated a cohort of geometrically similar pressure swirl atomizers using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) as well as additive manufacturing technology. We have characterized the dynamical characteristics of the sprays as well as the drop size and velocity spectra (in terms of probability density functions, p.d.f.s) over a wide range of Reynolds ($Re$) and Weber numbers ($We$) using high-speed imaging and phase Doppler interferometry, respectively. We show that the dimensionless Sauter mean diameter ($D_{32}$) scaled to the boundary layer thickness in the liquid sheet at the nozzle exit ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{o}$) exhibits self-similarity in the core region of the spray, but not in the outer zone. In addition, we show that global drop size spectra in the sprays show two distinct characteristics. The spectra from varying $Re$ and $We$ collapse onto a universal p.d.f. for drops of size $x$ where $x/\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{o}>1$. For $x/\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}_{o}<1$, a residual effect of $Re$ and $We$ persists in the size spectra. We explain this characteristic by the fact that the physical mechanisms that cause large drops is different from that which is responsible for the small drops. Similarly, with the liquid sheet velocity at the nozzle exit ($u_{s}$) as the choice of velocity scale, we show that drops moving with a velocity $u$ such that $u/u_{s}<1$ collapse onto a universal p.d.f., while drops with $u/u_{s}>1$ exhibit a residual effect of $Re$ and $We$. From these observations, we suggest that physically accurate models for drop size and velocity spectra should rely on piecewise descriptions of the p.d.f. rather than invoking a single mathematical form for the entire distribution. Finally, we show from a dynamical modal analysis that the conical liquid sheet flapping characteristics exhibit a sharp transition in Strouhal number ($St$) at a critical $Re$.
Combined Rayleigh–Taylor and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities on an annular liquid sheet
- M. Vadivukkarasan, Mahesh V. Panchagnula
-
- Journal:
- Journal of Fluid Mechanics / Volume 812 / 10 February 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 22 December 2016, pp. 152-177
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
This paper describes the three-dimensional destabilization characteristics of an annular liquid sheet when subjected to the combined action of Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) and Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability mechanisms. The stability characteristics are studied using temporal linear stability analysis and by assuming that the fluids are incompressible, immiscible and inviscid. Surface tension is also taken into account at both the interfaces. Linearized equations governing the growth of instability amplitude have been derived. These equations involve time-varying coefficients and have been analysed using two approaches – direct numerical time integration and frozen-flow approximation. From the direct numerical time integration, we show that the time-varying coefficients evolve on a slow time scale in comparison with the amplitude growth. Therefore, we justify the use of the frozen-flow approximation and derive a closed-form dispersion relation from the appropriate governing equations and boundary conditions. The effect of flow conditions and fluid properties is investigated by introducing dimensionless numbers such as Bond number ($Bo$), inner and outer Weber numbers ($We_{i}$, $We_{o}$) and inner and outer density ratios ($Q_{i}$, $Q_{o}$). We show that four instability modes are possible – Taylor, sinuous, flute and helical. It is observed that the choice of instability mode is influenced by a combination of both $Bo$ as well as $We_{i}$ and $We_{o}$. However, the instability length scale calculated from the most unstable wavenumbers is primarily a function of $Bo$. We show a regime map in the $Bo,We_{i},We_{o}$ parameter space to identify regions where the system is susceptible to three-dimensional helical modes. Finally, we show an optimal partitioning of a given total energy ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D701}$) into acceleration-induced and shear-induced instability mechanisms in order to achieve a minimum instability length scale (${\mathcal{L}}_{m}^{\ast }$). We show that it is beneficial to introduce at least 90 % of the total energy into acceleration induced RT instability mechanism. In addition, we show that when the RT mechanism is invoked to destabilize an annular liquid sheet, ${\mathcal{L}}_{m}^{\ast }\sim \unicode[STIX]{x1D701}^{-3/5}$.