A Novel Method of Atomization with Potential Gas Turbine Applications

Abstract

In conventional airblast or air-assist nozzles the bulk liquid to be atomized is first transformed into a jet or sheet before being exposed to the atomizing air. In the method of atomization dcscribed in this paper, the air is introduced into the bulk liquid at somc point upstream of the nozzle discharge orifice. This injectcd air forms bubbles which'explode' downstream of the injection orifice thereby shattering the liquid into small drops.

Experiments carrried out on this atomizer, using water as the working fluid and nitrogen as the driving gas, show that good atomization can be achieved using only small amounts of atomizing gas at injection pressures as low as 173 kPa (25psi). It is found that atomization quality is largely independent of the size of the nozzle discharge orifice. Thus the system appears to have good potential for applications where small holes and passages cannot be employed due to the risk of blockage by contaminants in the fuel.