A Novel Method of Atomization with Potential Gas Turbine Applications

Abstract

In conventional airhlast or air-assist nozzles the bulk liquid to he atomized is first transfor~ncd into a jct or shcct hcfore being cxposcd to the, atomizing air. In the mcthoii of atomization dcscrihcd in this paper, the air is introduced into the hulk liquid at sonic point upstream of thc nozzlc discharge orifice. This injcctcd air forms buhhlcs which 'cxplodc' downstream of thc injection orifice thereby shattering the liquid into sniall drops. Experiments cirrricd out on this ittoniizcr. using watcr as the working fluid and nitrogen as the driving gas, show that good atornization.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.