Two-Dimensional, High Flow, Precisely Controlled Monodisperse Drop Source
Abstract
A versatile acoustically-driven fluid atomizer was designed and operated that creates precise monodisperse sprays by Rayleigh breakup or polydisperse sprays by the acoustic driving of amplitude dependent instabilities. The atomizer forms a cylindrical, conical, or flat (sheet) liquid jet by means of a photofabricated nozzle. The spray pattern and spray volume are altered by changing the nozzle. A piezoelectric driver, constructed to efficiently couple energy to the liquid, modulates the fluid velocity. When operated at low power, the drop generator can produce arrays of monodisperse drops as small as 15 microns in diameter. Operating the piezoelectric driver at high power produces perturbations with sufficient energy to break the liquid jets into drops, with a net increase in surface energy. The resulting drop sizes are influenced by the frequency and amplitude of the driving signal and nozzle size. The spatial distribution of the spray is controlled by the spacing and geometry of the holes in the nozzle plate, the amplitude of the acoustic signal, and the swirl in the fluid manifold. This device is more robust than the typical acoustic drop generator because small drops can be made from large holes, reducing the plugging problem. No air flow is used.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA267660
Entities
People
- John L. Dressler