Atomization of high viscosity liquids using a two-fluid counterflow nozzle: Experiments and modeling

We study the enhanced atomization of viscous liquids by employing a novel two-fluid atomizer. The nozzle establishes a countercurrent flow configuration in which the gas and liquid are directed in opposite directions, establishing a two-phase mixing layer. Detailed measurements of droplet size distributions were carried out using laser shadowgraphy, along with high speed flow visualization. The measurements suggest that the liquid emerges as a spray with little further secondary atomization. The performance of this nozzle is compared to the ‘flow-blurring’ nozzle studied by other investigators for four test liquids of viscosity ranging from 1 to 133.5 mPa.s. The counterflow nozzle produces a spray whose characteristics are relatively insensitive to fluid viscosity over the range studied, for gas-liquid mass flow ratios between 0.25 and 1. To gain insight into the mixing process inside the nozzle, simulations are carried out using an Eulerian-Eulerian Volume of Fluid (VoF) approach for representative experimental conditions. The simulation reveals the detailed process of self-sustained flow oscillations and the physical mechanism that generate liquid filaments and final droplets.