Comparison of Drop Size Distributions from Two Droplet Sizing Systems

Abstract

A comparison between the Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer and the combined measurements from Particle Measuring Systems' Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe and the Optical Array Probe was conducted in an icing wind tunnel using NASA Icing Research Tunnel spray nozzles to produce the supercooled water droplet cloud. Clouds having a range of volume median diameters from 10 to greater than 50 microns were used for the instrument comparisons. A volume median diameter was calculated from combining the droplet distributions of the Optical Array Probe and the Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe. A comparison of the combined volume median diameters and the Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer volume median diameters showed agreement from 10 microns up to 30 microns. Typical drop size distributions from the Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer, the Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe, and Optical Array Probe are presented for several median volume diameters. A comparison of the distributions illustrates regions fo the distributions where there is good agreement and other regions where there are discrepancies between the Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer and the Particle Measuring Systems' droplet sizing instruments. Keywords: Droplet sizing instruments; Particle sizing instruments; Instrument comparisons; Droplet size distributions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 09, 1990
Accession Number
ADA221523

Entities

People

  • John R. Oldenburg
  • Robert F. Ide

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Analyzers
  • Army Aviation
  • Detectors
  • Forward Scattering
  • Laser Beams
  • Measurement
  • Metal Plates
  • Phase Shift
  • Scattering
  • Shape
  • Spectrometers
  • Spray Nozzles
  • Statistics
  • Test Facilities
  • Tubes
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Fluid Dynamics.