TWIN-FLUID ATOMIZATION: FACTORS INFLUENCING MEAN DROP SIZE

The principal factors governing the mean drop sizes produced by twin-fluid atomizers are examined. It is shown that atomization may occur by one of two different mechanisms. For both "classical" and "prompt" modes of atomization, the principal factors governing the fineness of atomization are air velocity, air/liquid ratio, and surface tension. For the classical mechanism of breakup, involving flow instabilities and wave formation, atomization occurs slowly and is strongly influenced by variations in liquid viscosity, air density, and the initial diameter (or thickness) of the liquid jet (or sheet). If atomization occurs very rapidly, these parameters have little effect on mean drop size.