An Experimental Study of the Disruption and Vaporization of Non-volatile and Volatile Droplets under Locally Supersonic Conditions
by Kim, YoungJun, Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, 2011, 203 pages; 3452696

Abstract:

The disruption of droplets in supersonic flow is examined experimentally in a draw- down supersonic wind tunnel. Mono-disperse 100 μm-diameter droplets consisting of neat hydrocarbon liquids and mixtures are generated using a droplet-on-demand generator upstream of the tunnel entrance. The test fluids include 2-propanol, Tetraethylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether, and a hexanol-pentane 50/50 mixture by volume. The hexanol-pentane mixture has similar physical properties to 2-propanol, but a considerably higher vapor pressure. The droplets are accelerated in the supersonic flow, achieving supersonic velocities relative to the surrounding air. The droplets are imaged by direct close-up single- and multiple-exposure imaging and by Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) imaging. The multiple- exposure technique allows for the measurement of the droplet velocity, from which the Mach number relative to the droplet, as well as the Weber number, are determined. The droplets reach a relative Mach number of as high as 1.8 and Weber numbers as high as 316. The low static pressure in the supersonic stream has the potential to give rise to superheating of the droplet fluid, as the static pressure can become significantly lower than the vapor pressure of the droplet liquid, depending on the test liquid employed. Droplet lifetimes for the more volatile hexanol/pentane mixture appear to be shorter due to accelerated vaporization consistent with superheating, though little impact is observed on the droplet velocity and relative Mach number. Droplet deformation and breakup patterns for these supersonic flow conditions can be classified into four different flow regions by considering the changes in the Weber number with downstream distance as the droplets accelerate. The drag coefficients associated with the droplet disruption under locally supersonic conditions are generally higher than those expected for solid spheres largely due to the cross-sectional area change associated with droplet deformation/breakup. LIF imaging of acetone vapor was accomplished by blending a small concentration of acetone into the droplet fluid. The LIF technique resolves the structure of the disrupting droplets in greater detail than is possible with direct imaging. In addition, LIF provides information on the droplet vaporization and fuel/air mixing. The more volatile liquid droplets exhibit a higher vaporization rate than nonvolatile droplets at all downstream locations, suggesting that droplet superheating does play some role in accelerating the vaporization of supersonic droplets under these conditions.

 
AdviserJames C. Hermanson
SchoolUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
SourceDAI/B 72-07, p. , May 2011
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsAerospace engineering; Mechanical engineering
Publication Number3452696
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