Study of spiral path angle in pressure-swirl atomizer with spiral path

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the number of spiral paths on the spray cone angle, discharge coefficient and droplet diameter in pressure-swirl atomizer with spiral paths using numerical and experimental methods. Initially, the injector was designed and manufactured based on some assumptions such as operating fluid type, pressure difference, spray cone angle and mass flow rate and then tested. Comparison of test results with design assumptions showed that mass flow rate and spray cone angle and discharge coefficient were 5%, 13.25% and 4% error, respectively. Then, numerical solution method was used for numerical investigation of the influence of geometric parameters. To simulate the two-phase flow, the fluid volume fraction model was used. The numerical solution of mass flow rate and spray cone angle and discharge coefficient showed 7.4%, 9.5% and 11.76% error, respectively. The results showed that the pressure-swirl atomizer with spiral paths has a conical shape and is hollow. Also, the total velocity and its components on the edge of the spray cone have the highest value. Investigations showed that at constant mass flow rate with increasing the torsion of spiral path, the total radial, axial and tangential velocities increased, which increased the spray cone angle and decreased the droplet diameter.