| Abstract: | Liquids or suspensions are divided into sprays of small droplets by atomization of two‐phase gas‐liquid mixtures. In this way either an equal distribution of the droplets or the generation of large surface areas of the liquid phase are accomplished, leading to increased heat‐ and mass‐transfer. The spatial and time dependency of the mean droplet diameter is a function of the total pressure upstream of the nozzle, the volumetric flow rate of the liquid and the gas, as well as on the flow regime in the nozzle. Thus the radial and axial profile of the void fraction inside the nozzle are measured with an electrical measurement technique. In addition, the flow in the nozzle is imaged by a high‐speed camera. Three flow regimes are identified. These are bubbly flow, plug flow and annular flow. A continuous flow of the emitting spray is observed for bubbly flow and annular flow only. The distribution of the dispersed bubble phase is given by ratio of the isothermic compression energy needed to pressurize the gas mass flow rate from atmospheric pressure up to the total pressure in front of the nozzle, and the potential energy of the supplied liquid mass flow rate. |
