ILASS–Asia 2017

Oct. 18-21, 2017, Jeju, Korea

EFFECT OF SWIRL CHAMBER LENGTH ON DROPLET SIZE

DISTRIBUTOIN IN A PRESSURE SWIRL ATOMIZER

REZA ALIDOOST DAFSARI1, FOAD VASHAHI1, RAKHUL CHANDRAHASAN1,

JEEKEUN LEE2,*

1
Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Graduate School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju,
South Korea.
2
Division of Mechanical System Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea.
Corresponding author: Jeekeun Lee, Email: leejk@jbnu.ac.kr

Keywords: Droplet Distribution, Hollow-cone Spray, PDPA (Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer), Pressure Swirl Atomizer,
SMD (Sauter Mean Diameter), Solid-cone Spray, Swirl Chamber Length

1. Introduction
6
Complex atomization process of Pressure swirl
nozzles and also wide range of industrial applications,
has made this type of atomizers a hot topic to study for Fuel Line
12 PIV
a very long time. Internal flow characteristics and
5 PDPA
atomization of bulk liquid into ligaments and droplet in 10
form of discharging spray are highly dependent on 6
11
various geometrical design parameters. Atomizers’ 13 7
performance such as droplet diameter, velocity
components, penetration length and spray angle have
significant effect on combustion efficiency, stability 15 8
and pollutant emissions as well as uniform target 9
coverage for an ideal combustion process in a gas
turbine(1),(2).
Atomizers performance have been found to be 18
3
related to physical and experimental properties such as
3 4
surface tension, viscosity, mass flow rate, density and
16
injection pressure within axial distance from nozzle 17 4
tip(3-7) Also nozzle geometrical parameters such as
discharge orifice length and diameter (L0 and D0), swirl
2
chamber length and diameter (Ls and Ds), atomizer 1
constant (K) and inlet cross sectional area(A0) have 14
direct effects on swirling motion inside the swirling
chamber and consequently characteristics of
atomization process as discharged spray (8-11).
This study experimentally follows the effects of
Length/Diameter ratio of swirling chamber (Ls/Ds) as a
non-dimensional geometrical parameter on atomizer
performance. Elkotb et al(12) concluded that an initial
increase in this ratio improves the atomization quality.
Sakman et al(13) showed that an increase in (Ls/Ds) Fig. 1. Experimental apparatus of laser diagnostic
reduces spray cone angle. To improve the present measurement devices and investigated Hybrid nozzle
 20 10 0 10 20 R(mm) velocity- in various axial distances from nozzle tip. A
0
Kulite pressure transducer was installed in the path of
10 fuel line from pressurizing tank to nozzle, to indicate
20
accurate inlet pressure where was always kept at 15bar.
30
2.2 Spray angle Measurement
40 Spray images captured using a synchronized high
speed camera and a Nd-YAG laser and then had been
50
averaged via a developed LAB-VIEW code.
60
Initial spray cone angle was measured within the first
Z(mm)

Ls/Ds=0.12 Ls/Ds =0.18 Ls/Ds=0.24 Ls/Ds=0.30 few millimeters of spray where primary atomization
takes place.
Fig. 2. Averaged images showing the effect of Ls/Ds
on spray angle and flow behavior. 3. Research and Discussion

knowledge about the importance of (Ls/Ds), this study
has been performed by using a specially designed
atomizer. A four tangential vane hybrid pressure swirl
atomizer with adjustable swirl chamber length while
keeping all other geometrical parameters constant was
investigated.
2. Research Method and Procedure
2.1 Experimental setup
Schematic of experimental apparatus is given in
Fig.1 including laser diagnostic measurement methods
A Dantec dual Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer (PDPA)
was employed for droplets mean diameter and velocity
components measurement and also a Particle Image
Velocimetry (PIV) to capture spray images. A
maximum of 10,000 validated samples were collected
in two perpendicular radial directions - for separately
measurement of radial and tangential components of
200
L /D =0.12 r=0
180 s s
160 sample rate =N: 69 #/s
140
120
D (m)
Effect of (Ls/Ds) on spray angle is given in Fig.2
which shows that spray cone angle (θ) decreases with
increasing Ls/Ds. Droplet diameter and velocity
distribution for variation of Ls/Ds ratios from PDPA in
50mm axial distance from nozzle tip is shown in Fig.3
in two rows. Samples are collected in 1000ms of
atomization period. The upper row includes droplet
distribution and sample rate in the central axis of spray
(r=0) and the bottom row shows droplet distribution at
spray periphery (r=0.9R).
The smallest ratio of swirl chamber length/diameter
generates a hollow-cone type spray as the center of
spray has few droplets where most of the droplets are
concentrated at spray boundary. It was observed that
number of droplets at center of spray gradually
increases in higher Ls/Ds. This shows a transition
regime from hollow-cone to solid-cone type spray.
Higher Ls/Ds tend to have more uniform velocity
distribution. Increasing Ls/Ds results in spray with
Ls/Ds=0.18 r=0 Ls/Ds=0.24 r=0 Ls/Ds=0.30 r=0
N: 1060 #/s N: 6301 #/s N: 8866 #/s

100
80
60
40
20

L /D =0.12 r=0.9R Ls/Ds=0.18 r=0.9R Ls/Ds=0.24 r=0.9R Ls/Ds=0.30 r=0.9R

180 s s
160 N: 4260 #/s N: 1446 #/s N: 5302 #/s N: 4207 #/s
140
120
D (m)

100
80
60
40
20
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 10 20 30 40 50 10 20 30 40 50 10 20 30 40 50 60
U (m/Sec) U (m/Sec) U (m/Sec) U (m/Sec)

Fig. 3. Effect of Ls/Ds on droplet diameter and velocity distribution and sample-rate at axial distance of
50mm from nozzle tip in 1 second (top row: at the center of spray. bottom row: at spray periphery)
 Cd Re FN SMD Q m t U
(m) lit/s) (kg/min)(mm)(m/s)
6.6 2.6 0.36
0.38 50 1.00 27000 1.1x10-6 96 36
-5
0.50 6.3 4.2x10
94 2.5
0.36 26000 -6
6.0 45 0.95 1.0x10 92 0.34
4.0x10
-5
2.4 34
0.34 25000 90
0.45 5.7 -6
0.90 1.0x10
40 88 3.8x10-5 2.3
Mean W (m/sec)

24000 0.32
0.32 5.4
Mean V (m/sec)

32
-7 86
9.5x10 2.2
0.85 23000
 (deg)
da (mm)

0.30 5.1 35 84 3.6x10 -5

0.40
0.30
4.8 22000 9.0x10
-7 82 2.1 30
0.28 0.80 -5
30 80 3.4x10
4.5 21000 -7 2.0
0.35 0.26 8.5x10 78 0.28
4.2 0.75 -5 28
25 20000 76 3.2x10 1.9
-7
0.24 8.0x10
3.9 74 0.26
0.70 19000 3.0x10
-5 1.8
0.30 0.22 3.6 20 -7
72 26
7.5x10
18000 70 1.7
0.20 3.3
0.12 0.15 0.18 0.21 0.24 0.27 0.30
Ls/Ds
Fig. 4. Effect of Ls/Ds on various related parameters. Right side axises belongs to parameters with increasing trends
and left side axises represent parameters with decreasing trend within studied range of Ls/Ds.

larger droplets and higher axial velocity mainly at mass-flowrate increase which lead to higher value of
center. Bottom row shows larger droplets in spray Flow number and discharge coefficient. Spray cone
boundary mostly have higher velocity. angle is directly related to tangential velocity and air-
Weighted mean measurements of droplet diameter, core diameter as the results of spray cone angle and
axial, radial and tangential components of velocity (U, mean tangential velocity follow the same trend with
V and W) were performed. Droplet number density is variation of Ls/Ds values.
taken into account in weighted mean measurement All the mentioned parameters within given range
method such as representative parameter (P) where ni found to be related and highly influenced by Ls/Ds ratio
is the number of droplets at measured point i: variation. All these parameters are well fitted in
weather increasing or decreasing trend in the Fig. 4.

i r Where liquid film thickness and accordingly air-core
 Pi  ni
P i 0 Eq. (1) diameter are numerically estimated (14) and all other
n parameters are experimentally measured using laser
diagnostic methods. All values in given ranges then
were normalized to their maximum value of each
SMD and Ū represent overall Sauter mean diameter parameter in range of (0,1). Results are plotted in Fig 5
and axial velocity for the whole spray cut section which shows well agreement with Fig.4.
respectively which was found to increase with
increasing Ls/Ds. Weighted mean radial and tangential
components of velocity reversely decrease within
1.1
velocity magnitude (see Fig.4). As length/diameter of
swirl chamber increase the swirling motion of flow 1.0 
W
diminishes due to decay in centrifugal force, and V
0.9
relatively tangential velocity component. This is da
followed by a rise in axial velocity component. A 0.8 U
 (deg)

higher velocity lead to a more turbulent flow which is Cd

shown by increasing trend of Reynolds number (Re) in 0.7 Re
m
Fig. 4. Q
0.6
Lower tangential velocity results in reduction and t
gradually disappearance of air-core diameter in the 0.5 FN
SMD
center of swirl chamber and subsequently increases in
0.4
flow area at discharge orifice with increasing liquid 0.12 0.15 0.18 0.21 0.24 0.27 0.30
film thickness. Thicker liquid film is basically Ls/Ds
disintegrated into larger ligaments and droplets in Fig. 5. Normalized values of various related parameter
atomization process which leads to a higher mean SMD. with Ls/Ds
As flow area increase, volume flow-rate and relatively
 5. Conclusion Taylor & Francis/Hemisphere; 1989.
3. CHEN S. K., LEFEBVRE A. H., ROLLBUHLER J. Factors
This study investigated a unique Pressure swirl Influencing the Effective Spray Cone Angle of Pressure-
nozzle with adjustable swirl chamber length. Laser Swirl Atomizers, Journal of Engineering for Gas
Turbines and Power 1992: 114: 97-103.
diagnostic methods were performed to study the effects
4. LEFEBVRE A. H., WANG X. F. Mean drop sizes from
of Ls/Ds in the range of 0.12 to 0.30 on atomizers’ pressure-swirl nozzles, Journal of Propulsion and Power
performance. Results were summarized as follows: 1987: 3: 11-18.
5. CHIN J. S., NICKOLAUS D., LEFEBVRE A. H. Influence of
1. Lowest ratio of swirl chamber length/diameter Downstream Distance on the Spray Characteristics of
generates hollow-cone type spray where spray Pressure-Swirl Atomizers, Journal of Engineering for
structure gradually turn to solid-cone type with Gas Turbines and Power 1986: 108: 219-224.
increasing Ls/Ds. 6. REDDY K. U., MISHRA D. P. Studies on Spray Behavior
2. Higher value of Ls/Ds generates larger droplets with of a Pressure Swirl Atomizer in Transition Regime,
higher velocity and higher droplet number density. Journal of Propulsion and Power 2008: 24: 74-80.
7. SANTOLAYA J. L., AÍSA L. A., CALVO E., GARCÍA I.,
3. Increasing Ls/Ds reduces swirling motion inside the
CERECEDO L. M. Experimental Study of Near-Field
swirl chamber and centrifugal force. Decay in Flow Structure in Hollow Cone Pressure Swirl Sprays,
tangential component of velocity leads to Journal of Propulsion and Power 2007: 23: 382-389.
disappearance of air-core in the center of swirl 8. STEINTHORSSON E, BENJAMIN MA, IN: C. P., XUE J, JOG
chamber and consequently results in cone angle MA, SM J. Influence of geometry on the performance of
reduction. simplex nozzles under
4. Decay in tangential component of velocity can constant pressure drop, Cincinnati, OH 45221:
increase axial velocity component in more turbulent University of Cincinnati 2002.
flow with higher Reynolds number. 9. CHU C.-C., CHOU S.-F., LIN H.-I., LIANN Y.-H. An
5. Flow area gets wider in higher Ls/Ds since discharge experimental investigation of swirl atomizer sprays,
Heat and Mass Transfer 2008: 45: 11-22.
orifice is no more occupied with air-core. This
10. HALDER M. R., DASH S. K., SOM S. K. Influences of
means a higher flow rate and accordingly a higher nozzle flow and nozzle geometry on the shape and size
discharge coefficient. of an air core in a hollow cone swirl nozzle, Proceedings
6. Thicker liquid film transform to larger ligaments of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C:
and droplet. So, increase in Ls/Ds results in larger Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 2003: 217:
SMD. 207-217.
11. DATTA A., SOM S. K. Numerical prediction of air core
Nomenclature diameter, coefficient of discharge and spray cone angle
of a swirl spray pressure nozzle, Int J Heat Fluid Flow
A0 Inlet cross-section area Re Reynolds number 2000: 21: 8.
Cd Discharge coefficient SMD Sauter mean diameter 12. ELKOTB M. M., RAFAT N. M., HANNA M. A. the
da Air-core diameter t Liquid film thickness influence of swirl atomizer geometry on the atomization
Ds Swirl chamber diameter U Axial velocity performance, proceeding of the 1st international
FN Flow number V Radial velocity conference on Liquid Atomization and Spray System,
K Atomizer constant W Tangential velocity Tokyo 1978: 109-115.
Ls Swirl chamber length θ Spray cone angle 13. SAKMAN A. T., JOG M. A., JENG S. M., BENJAMIN M. A.
ṁ Mass flow rate PDPA Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer Parametric Study of Simplex Fuel Nozzle Internal Flow
Q Volume flow rate PIV Particle Image Velocimetry and Performance, AIAA Journal 2000: 38: 1214-1218.
14. XUE J., JOG M. A., JENG S. M. Effect of Geometric
Parameters on Simplex Atomizer Performance AIAA
Acknowledgments 2004.

This work was carried out with the support of the

“Cooperative Research Program for Agricultural
Science & Technology Development (Project No.
PJ011719)” of the Rural Development Administration,
Republic of Korea

6. Reference

1. CROWE C. T. Multiphase Flow Handbook Boca Raton:

Taylor & Francis; 2006.
2. LEFEBVRE A. H. Atomization and Spray New York:

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