Atomization and Sprays, Vol.16, No.3, 265-278, 2006
Experimental investigation of coalescence and droplet trajectories between two polydisperse sprays
Phase-Doppler anemometry was used to measure droplet size and velocity profiles at different downstream positions for two nozzles pointed toward each other at an angle of 45 deg to the centerline. Furthermore, droplet trajectories were studied in more detail using fluids with different sodium-ion concentrations for each nozzle at two different operating conditions, which produce small and large droplets, respectively. The results showed that large droplets have more inertia and travel more quickly than small droplets, so that they retain their radial velocity component farther downstream and penetrate further into the adjacent spray. Therefore, large droplets are more likely to capture the small droplets that are found along their trajectory while traveling toward the other side of the crossover point between the sprays. The results of the experiments with different sodium-ion concentrations for each nozzle also showed that coalescence of droplets does occur to some extent with two nozzles in this configuration.