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Atomization and Sprays

Journal of the International Institutes for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems

ISSN for PRINT: 1045-5110

Institutional price:	$787.00
Issues per year:	8

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2001, Volume11

186 pages

Issue price - $75.00

ON THE INFLUENCE OF INTERNAL FLOW STRUCTURE ON PERFORMANCE OF PLAIN-ORIFICE ATOMIZERS

Changhai Xu
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

R. A. Bunnell
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Steve D. Heister
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

ABSTRACT

A series of parametric simulations was conducted to investigate the unsteady internal flow behavior in plain orifice, or “pressure” atomizers. The unsteady behavior is attributed to instabilities in the vena contracta and the presence of cavitation in this region. Even though the present calculations are laminar, they exhibit turbulent-like characteristics due to this instability. Orifice mass flow is shown to be periodic in most instances with fluctuations occurring at frequencies consistent with the orifice transit time. Cavitation is shown to enhance fluctuations, in some cases quite dramatically. Results are presented for a range of flow conditions and orifice geometries.