Droplet Breakup Research Articles

Analysis of magnetic field-induced breakup of ferrofluid droplets in a symmetric Y-junction microchannel

This research focuses on the analysis of the breakup of ferrofluid droplets in a symmetric microchannel with a Y-junction microchannel, utilizing computational methods. The study proposes an innovative strategy to enhance the breakup phenomenon by introducing a magnetic field within the branches of the Y-junction microchannel. To verify the obtained results, a comprehensive comparison is conducted, incorporating previous numerical and experimental investigations available in the literature. The outcomes of this comparison demonstrate a significant concurrence between the current findings and the prior studies. The results unequivocally elucidate that the presence of a magnetic field accelerates the fragmentation of the parent droplet in comparison to scenarios without a magnetic field. Furthermore, it is established that the duration required for droplet breakup decreases as the magnetic Bond number increases. Achieved results indicates \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:{\ ext{t}}_{breakup}^{*}$$\\end{document} decreases about 3% and 1.5% for L*=3 and L*=4, respectively. It is worth highlighting that this trend is particularly accentuated in the case of smaller non-dimensional lengths, specifically L∗=3.0.

Liquid breakup and droplets behavior of free triple-impinging jets with different impinging distance

The breakup characteristics and droplet behavior of free triple-impinging jets (FTIJs) were investigated using a high-speed camera. The liquid sheet and droplets breakup mechanism, liquid sheet breakup length, width, droplet diameter and velocity, were studied under different jet velocity and horizontal impinging distance and perpendicular impinging distance. The results revealed that with increasing jet velocity from 1.42 m/s to 6.61 m/s, different breakup modes were observed: closed-rim mode, open-rim mode, rimless mode, and wave or ligament mode. At low jet velocities, increasing impinging distance delayed the development of breakup mode. Based on experimental observations, the sheet breakup mechanism is categorized into two main regimes with four subregimes. Droplet breakup occurs in two stages: growth and necking, however, at high jet velocities complete breakup was achieved. Increasing jet velocity led to an increase in liquid sheet breakup length, width, and droplet velocity but a decrease in droplet diameter. Conversely, increasing impinging distance resulted in a decrease in liquid sheet breakup width and droplet radial velocity but an increase in droplet diameter. The effect of perpendicular impinging distance on axial velocity and breakup length was found to be more significant than that of horizontal impinging distance due to the effect of perpendicular nozzle. The findings indicate that the perpendicular jet greatly enhances atomization. This study provides a theoretical basis for designing and optimizing FTIJs.

Experimental study on the influence of surface properties on droplet collision dynamics, from adhesion to rebound to breakup

Liquid droplet impact on dry surfaces often results in bouncing or breakup beyond a certain threshold. Surface contact angles, especially dynamic ones present during impact, significantly affect this process. Our experimental study underscores that advancing and receding contact angles influence droplet behaviors like rebounding and different types of breakup. This discovery provides new insights and criteria for understanding liquid droplet impact on surfaces. Special characteristics were found in the breakup on microstructured surfaces: the size of fractured droplets notably decreases, and the spreading–breakup occurs more easily and earlier. Additionally, microstructured surfaces reduce contact time to some extent. Furthermore, the uniqueness of oblique impacts is mainly reflected in how they lower the threshold of the receding contact angle for rebound. Studying the correlations and differences in droplet rebound and breakup related to these surface characteristics will contribute to improving research on liquid–solid interactions and the design of hydrophobic surfaces, including microstructured surfaces.

Numerical study of two equal-sized miscible drops undergoing head-on collision

The numerical analysis focuses on investigating head-on collisions between two miscible drops composed of distinct fluids, specifically ethanol and water. The simulations are performed using a coupled level set and volume of fluid approach with different Weber numbers to study the effect of drop inertia. The code is validated against experimental and numerical results from earlier investigations. Additionally, a comparative study involving both water drops and ethanol–water drops is conducted to explore the impact of varying surface tension ratios on collision outcomes. Results show that when miscible drops collide, the merged liquid drop exhibits asymmetric behavior, such as an asymmetric combined drop shape in cases of permanent coalescence or an asymmetric end droplet breakup in cases of reflexive separation. The collision outcome undergoes significant variation as the Weber number changes. At lower Weber numbers, permanent coalescence is observed, while at medium Weber numbers, reflexive separation occurs without the formation of a secondary drop. For medium to large Weber numbers, reflexive separation with the generation of one secondary drop becomes prominent, and in the case of very large Weber numbers, multiple satellite drops form. The maximum vertical elongation of the merged drop and corresponding surface energy increase as the surface tension ratio rises, irrespective of the Weber number. However, for a fixed surface tension ratio, the maximum vertical elongation and associated surface energy vary with an increase in the Weber number. The findings also shed light on the enhanced internal mixing arising from the mismatched surface tension of the colliding drops as the Weber number increases. Furthermore, the study explores the effect of drop inertia on various aspects, including asymmetric collision behavior, energy budget, and mixing index.

Numerical Analysis of Spray Evaporation Process in Desuperheater

Abstract The cooling water is sprayed into the desuperheater to regulate the temperature of the superheated steam. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was applied to investigate the spray evaporation process in the desuperheater. Discrete phase model (DPM) was applied to describe the gas-liquid two-phase flow characteristics based on the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. The Rosin-Rammler distribution and TAB model were used for the description of the primary and secondary droplet breakup, respectively. The coupling effect of gas-liquid two-phase, influence of temperature on latent heat, the stochastic collision and coalescence of droplets were considered in the CFD model. The numerical results show good agreement with the plant data. The hydrodynamics and temperature distribution characteristics were analysed. The influence of water mass flow rate and orifice dimensions on temperature distribution and temperature non-uniformity was further investigated. The results indicate that increasing the water flow rate can improve the desuperheating ability, but it will make the temperature uniformity worse. Under the same operating conditions, smaller orifice diameters are beneficial for production of droplets with smaller size, leading to better desuperheating ability.

Modeling of Supercooled Large Droplet Physics in Aircraft Icing

This paper aims to investigate phenomena that are related to SLD conditions in aircraft icing including gravity, non-spherical droplets, droplet breakup and droplet splash using an in-house computational tool. The in-house computational tool involves four modules for the computation of the flow field, droplet trajectories, convective heat transfer coefficients and ice growth rates. Droplet trajectories are computed using the Lagrangian approach, while ice growth rates are calculated using the Extended Messinger Model. In order to extend the capabilities of the computational tool to include SLD-related phenomena, empirical models that represent SLD physics are implemented. An extensive study has been performed using MS317 and NACA0012 airfoils, that aims to bring out the relative importance of the SLD-related phenomena, particularly on water catch rates and ice formation. The results of the study pointed to some important new conclusions that may shed further light on SLD physics. For example, multiple droplet breakup has been observed under certain conditions and droplet breakup emerged as a more important effect than previously reported. It was also seen that droplet splash influences both the energy balance and the mass balance in the icing process, which has been shown to have an important effect on the final ice shape, especially for very large droplets.

Dynamic Behavior of Impacting Droplet on the Edges of Different Wettability Surface.

The dynamic behavior of impacting droplet shearing by the surface edge with different wettabilities is complicated and has great significance for engineering application. The morphological evolution of droplet with various Weber numbers (We) and wettability impacting on the edge of square substrate is investigated by high-speed photography. Moreover, the effects of the contact angle (α) and Weber numbers (We) on the shear breaking process of droplets are obtained. There are three types morphological evolution of impacting droplet are observed experimentally, including unbroken, tensile breakup, and shear breakup. Contact angle and Weber number have been proved to be the significant factors affecting the type of droplet morphological evolution. Meanwhile, the critical Weber number of different types are obtained quantitatively. Moreover, as α increases, the critical Weber numbers for breakup increase. In the shear breakup process, the mass ratio between the droplets remaining on the substrate and the initial droplets is maintained at 50%. Particularly, a reliable prediction model for the spreading of droplet impacting the side wall is proposed and compared with the experimental data. Overall, this study provides new direction and guidance for exploring droplet breakup kinetics.

Aerodynamic breakup of emulsion droplets in airflow

AbstractAerodynamic breakup refers to the process where large droplets are fragmented into small droplets by the aerodynamic force in airflow, which plays a vital role in fluid atomization and spray applications. Previous research has primarily concentrated on the aerodynamic breakup of single‐component droplets, but investigations into the breakup of emulsion droplets are limited. This study experimentally investigated the aerodynamic breakup of water‐in‐oil emulsions in airflow, utilizing high‐speed photography to observe the breakup process and digital in‐line holography to measure fragment sizes. Comparative analyses between emulsion droplets and single‐component droplets are conducted to examine the breakup morphology, breakup regime, deformation characteristics, and fragment size distributions. The emulsion droplets exhibit higher apparent viscosity and shorter stretching lengths of the bag film and peripheral rim due to the presence of a dispersed phase. The breakup regime transitions of emulsions are modeled by integrating the viscosity model of emulsions and the transition model of the pure fluid. The fragment sizes of emulsion droplets are larger due to the shorter lengths of the bag film and peripheral rim.

Effect of the Surface Peak-Valley Features on Droplet Impact Dynamics under Leidenfrost Temperature.

This study explores the kinetic behavior of droplets impacting microtextured surfaces under a Leidenfrost temperature, employing high-speed photography and picosecond laser micromachining techniques. The investigation focuses on two types of microtextured surfaces with totally different surface peak-valley features: a negatively skewed surface with micropit arrays (Ssk < 0) and a positively skewed surface with micropillar arrays (Ssk > 0). The results indicate that both microtextured surfaces contribute to a higher Leidenfrost temperature compared with the original smooth surface, which is consistent with previous studies. However, it is worth noting that the Leidenfrost points of the micropit and micropillar surfaces showed opposite trends with the microtexture area occupancy. Specifically, the Leidenfrost temperature on micropit surfaces increases with greater micropit area occupancy, while it decreases on micropillar surfaces under similar conditions, which is mainly attributed to the differential impact of area occupancy on droplet heat transfer efficiency. When the microtexture area occupancy is 50%, it is worth noting that the micropit and micropillar surfaces have nearly same roughness (Sa), but the Leidenfrost temperature was notably higher on the micropit surface with negative skewness (Ssk < 0), which was related to differences in vapor flow dynamics. We further find that the Weber number (We) significantly influences the Leidenfrost point, with the droplet impact wall behavior going through the states of film bounce back, ejecting tiny droplets and bounce back, and ultimately droplet breakup as the We increases. The dynamic Leidenfrost point was found to be generally higher than the static point and increases with the We. Finally, we compare the cooling efficiency of these surfaces, and it is found that the micropit surfaces with a negative skewness exhibit superior heat dissipation performance under the same conditions, which proved that the negatively skewed surface may have great potential in high-density heat dissipation technology.

Experimental and theoretical modeling of droplet break-up of W/O emulsion flow in ESPs

The behavior of water-in-oil emulsions flow within Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESPs) is of significant interest in the oil and gas industry due to its complex rheological characteristics, which are influenced by operational parameters and the chemical properties of both phases. Operational parameters such as dispersed phase fraction, temperature, flow rate, and pump design were investigated experimentally in this work. Improved semi-empirical models for mean and maximum droplet diameter estimation were also proposed. Through extensive experimentation and statistical analysis, this study reveals that smaller droplets form with increasing dispersed phase fraction and the flow geometry significantly affects droplet breakage intensity. The proposed models integrate the dispersed phase fraction, dimensionless flow rate, specific speed, and energy dissipation rate, exhibiting commendable alignment with experimental findings. This not only helps predict effective viscosity but offers valuable insights for further analyses, particularly regarding catastrophic phase inversion (CPI) prediction. These aspects have significant importance in the oil and gas industry and can enable the optimization of production systems and processing facilities.

Photochemical degradation of antibiotics: real-time investigation by aerodynamic thermal breakup droplet ionization mass spectrometry.

A method is proposed for studying photochemical reactions in solution in real time using aerodynamic/thermal breakup droplet ionization mass spectrometry. Capabilities of the method were demonstrated by analyses of photodegradation processes of three antibiotics (thiamphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin) by means of aqueous solutions. The method rapidly provided information about photochemical changes for understanding the photochemical processes.

High-precision ultrasonic atomization using oscillating microchannels: Interplay of three-dimensional vibrational modes and droplet ejection mechanisms

Ultrasonic atomization is a critical process for producing micrometer-diameter droplets, widely utilized in aerosol drug delivery, spectrometry, and printing. The geometry of the vessel containing the fluid being atomized and the oscillations of its sidewalls play a crucial role in controlling the wave patterns and hence the droplet ejection process, especially at actuation frequencies exceeding 1 MHz. However, the mechanisms behind droplet ejection under high-frequency ultrasonic actuation remain poorly understood. We employ oscillating high-aspect-ratio Silicon microchannels to create ideal conditions where capillary forces, microchannel geometry, and oscillatory motion work together to precisely confine a liquid film and generate droplets with controlled diameters. We show that the three-dimensional vibrations of the microchannels, particularly the interplay between actuation frequency, amplitude, and channel geometry, can be used to effectively tune the ligament development and droplet breakup. This understanding allows us to establish conditions to reduce actuation power and hence minimize heating, control shear stresses and tune the droplet size on-demand without compromising uniformity and throughput.

Investigation in the bag breakup of water droplet in airflow with different temperatures and densities

This paper tries to clarify the respective significance of thermal effects and airflow density on the influence of bag breakup of water droplets in hot airflow. The bag breakup processes of water droplets in the airflow temperature range of 293 K (ρg=1.205 kg/m3) to 493 K (ρg=0.716 kg/m3) were investigated. Meanwhile, room-temperature gas mixtures with corresponding densities were prepared using room-temperature helium blended with room-temperature air to explore the bag breakup processes of water droplets. The results show that although the critical conventional Weber number (Wecon) of spherical droplets for bag breakup varies significantly in both streams, the critical initiation Weber number (Weini) of disk-shaped droplets for bag breakup remains almost consistent. Different deformation processes from Wecon to Weini result in different Wecon. In the gas mixtures with room temperature, the critical Wecon for bag breakup increases from 9.47 to 12.12 as the stream density decreases from 1.205 to 0.716 kg/m3. However, the critical Wecon for bag breakup decreases from 9.47 to 7.80 in the hot airflow at identical airflow density variations.

Janus nanoparticles as efficient interface compatibilizer in blends of polylactide and elastomers: Importance of interfacial relaxation on toughening

For blending immiscible polymers, such as in the toughening modification of polylactide (PLA) via blending with rubbery materials, interfacial compatibilization is of great significance while the mechanism, especially the role of interfacial rheology, remains elusive. In this study, styrene-butadiene block copolymer elastomer (SBC) was employed to toughen PLA and a dumbbell-shaped Janus nanoparticle (JNP) consisting of polymethyl methacrylate and polystyrene spheres with equal size (∼80 nm) was used as the compatibilizer. Located at the interface, JNPs exhibited a great compatibilization efficiency in PLA/SBC blends, as demonstrated by the good morphology stabilization against droplet coalescence under static annealing and low shear flow conditions, as well as by the resistance against droplet breakup under high shear flow conditions. Moreover, as revealed from the linear viscoelasticity of JNP compatibilized blends, when JNP loading is more than 2 phr, aside from shape relaxation, an interfacial relaxation dominated by Marangoni stress was observed, indicating the possibility of particle redistribution on droplet surfaces. However, when loading is more than 4 phr, relaxations in the terminal zone no longer exist, implying the possible formation of a particle network on the droplet surface. This is consistent with the mechanical properties. The blend shows the greatest toughness at JNP loading around 3 phr, while the toughness is very poor when JNP loading is either too low or too high. This suggests interfacial relaxation to be crucial to guarantee a good toughening effect of SBC in PLA.

Interaction between liquid droplets and membrane surfaces

Multi-stage flue gas cleaning systems are used to reduce the pollutant emissions from fuel combustion. A variety of filters have been developed to capture soot particles in flue gases. Such filters are usually based on membranes. Another popular way of reducing the anthropogenic emissions in flue gases is by adding agents or water to fuels. Not much information is available on the impact of vapor produced by the combustion of such fuels on membrane permeability characteristics. Membrane permeability to gas flow should be studied with due consideration of membrane wettability and droplet agglomeration on it. This research focuses on identifying the main patterns of the interaction between liquid droplets and membranes of various types. Using the experimental findings, we have identified two droplet-membrane interaction regimes–spreading and breakup–as well as the interaction phases when each of these two regimes is observed. We have also established that the maximum spreading diameter remains relatively insensitive to the surface wettability at low Weber numbers. The analysis of the experimental findings has shown that an air pocket is formed under a droplet if its impact velocity exceeds 2.5 m/s. The impact with an air pocket triggers droplet breakup and reduces the maximum spreading diameter. This process is a decisive factor in favor of using membranes in flue gas cleaning systems. The findings of this paper can be used to extend the operating life of filtration membranes used in thermal power plants.

Analysis of cyclone separator solutions depending on spray ejector condenser conditions

The core design strategy for minimizing CO2 emissions in gas power plant entails combining a spray ejector condenser (SEC) and separator to accomplish steam condensation and CO2 purification. This innovative process involves direct-contact condensation of steam with CO2, facilitated by interaction with a subcooled water spray, along with a cyclone separator mechanism intended for generating pure CO2. The investigation of the SEC section, both experimentally and analytically, provides crucial insights into its operational dynamics. Given the susceptibility of cyclone efficiency to fluctuations in SEC conditions, this research endeavors to examine the impacts of CO2 volumetric flow rate and droplet break-up within the SEC on the separation efficacy of the cyclone separator. Additionally, the impact of cone size on the performance of the cyclone has been investigated. Here, a three-dimensional, transient, and turbulent cyclone separator is numerically simulated using Ansys Fluent 2021 R1. The Reynolds Stress Model is employed to simulate turbulent flow, while a mixture model is utilized to replicate swirl two-phase flow within the separators. The findings revealed that reductions in steam and CO2 flow rates were associated with a decrease in outlet temperature but an increase in SEC inlet temperature, leading to a rise in temperature difference and heat transfer rate. Furthermore, an augmentation in cyclone cone size (from 0.2 to 0.5 m) resulted in enhanced separation efficiency (from 77.30 % to 80.98 %) alongside an elevation in pressure drop (from 6.08 Pa to 10.91 Pa), suggesting a compromise between CO2 purification and energy consumption. Additionally, elevated CO2 flow rates induced a rise in pressure drop and separation efficiency, ultimately achieving maximum efficiency at a rate of 24 gs. Moreover, the exploration into droplet breakup manifesting in a boost in separation efficiency from 50.98 % to 100 % across droplet diameters ranging from 1 to 20 μm.

Asymmetric droplet splitting in a T-junction under a pressure difference

In this paper, the phase-field multiphase lattice Boltzmann method is employed to simulate droplet breakup in a T-junction under different outlet pressures. Three behaviors of droplet breakup: non-breakup (flow pattern I), breakup with tunnels (flow pattern II), and breakup with permanent obstruction (flow pattern Ⅲ) are identified. The evolution of morphological characteristics of droplet breakup is quantitatively characterized, based on which the asymmetric splitting mechanisms and the influencing factors are clarified. Additionally, the factors influencing the droplet splitting volume ratio (VII/VI) are elucidated. The results indicate that there is a non-linear relationship between the VII/VI and the flow rate ratio. Moreover, the curve depicting the final VII/VI versus the initial droplet length exhibits a V-shape and has a minimum value. A conclusion is drawn that the Capillary number mainly influences flow pattern II, with the final VII/VI decreasing as the Capillary number increases. Additionally, for flow pattern III, the final VII/VI increases linearly with rising droplet size at low viscosity ratios, whereas it decreases linearly at high viscosity ratios. The growing outlet pressure difference enlarges the flow difference between the two branches, leading to an increase in the final VII/VI.

Atomistic insights into role of urea additive in lithium nanoparticles formation

Recently, urea additive has been demonstrated to benefit the formation of cathode nanomaterials through spray flame synthesis with improved homogeneity in lithium atoms distribution. Nevertheless, its intrinsic mechanism has not been well understood. In this study, reactive molecular dynamic simulations are performed to gain atomistic insights into the pyrolysis and oxidation mechanisms of a lithium precursor droplet with or without urea additive. A series of comparisons involving the reaction kinetics and pathways of lithium clusters, along with the gas release, energy profiles and morphological characteristics of droplets, is conducted to elucidate the role of urea additive at 1500 K and 0.1 MPa. Urea additive is observed to exert a homogenising impact on the distribution of lithium atoms within the synthesized nanoparticles, as evidenced by the decreased number of large-sized lithium agglomerates and less concentrated lithium element. This can be ascribed to changed reaction pathways of lithium clusters due to urea additive, where the lithium clusters are prone to decompose into fine nanoparticles through initial bonding with urea atoms, followed by bond-breaking to generate gases. The increased amount of gas released from the decomposition of precursor with urea additive leads to a more violent droplet microexplosion, which in turn results in droplet breakup and thus fine droplets. As the ambient temperature is elevated, the presence of urea additive facilitates the formation of fine-sized nanoparticles with enhanced homogeneity of lithium atoms.

Universal Correlation for Droplet Fragmentation in a Microfluidic T-Junction.

Despite extensive research on droplet dynamics at microfluidic T-junction, for different droplet lengths and Capillary numbers, there remains limited understanding of their dynamics at different viscosity ratio. In this study, we adopt a modeling framework in a three-dimensional (3D) configuration to numerically investigate the droplet dynamics as it passes through a symmetric T-junction with varying Capillary numbers, droplet lengths, and viscosity ratios. We present a 3D regime map for the first time to demarcate the droplet breakup and no breakup regimes. Herein, we propose a simple surface equation accounting for the critical Capillary number for breakup, in terms of viscosity ratio and dimensionless droplet length. The proposed universal relationship aligns well with experimental and computational findings from the existing literature. Furthermore, we reveal a new droplet breakup characteristic at high viscosity ratio and high Capillary number where the droplet spreads almost twice its initial value before splitting. Overall, this research provides comprehensive understanding of droplet dynamics at the T-junction and has significant implications for several related applications, including the large-scale synthesis of microdroplets using microchannel networks.

Theoretical study on sequential splitting of droplets flowing through fractal tree-shaped microchannel networks

A theoretical model for describing the sequential splitting of droplets flowing through the fractal tree-shaped microchannel network with arbitrary branch level is developed to explore the mechanisms underlying the hydraulic imbalance on the high-throughput droplets production. Accordingly, detailed droplet splitting characteristics are presented, including the droplet velocities in branches, droplet distribution coefficient, and monodispersity of droplets production. It is found that the uniformity of droplet mainly depends on two key dimensionless parameters, namely Λ1 and Λ2, where Λ1 is determined by the initial working condition involving the initial lengths and viscosity of the continuous and discrete phases, the width of the 0th level channel, and the initial capillary number, and Λ2 is concerned with the outlet pressure pout, [2n-1] and the pressure drops of the continuous and discrete phases at the 0th level channel. The monodispersity of droplets goes down with the decreasing Λ1 and the increasing Λ2. Based on the Λ1 and Λ2, the optimal design strategies contributing to enhancing the droplet generation uniformity are recommended, including increasing Ca, enlarging the length of continuous phase flow at the main channel, and increasing the lengths of each level channels. Furthermore, the tree-shaped microchannel networks with higher branch level (n) have stronger ability to resist asymmetric disturbances. In particular, in our work, the width fractal dimension Δ = 2 is adopted as a proper key structure parameter, so as to ensure sequential breakup of droplet at each T-junction under symmetric condition.