Effect of Inlet Tangential Port Area on the Performance of Small – Scale Simplex Atomizer

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the effects of increased area of inlet tangential ports on the performance of small scale simplex atomizer. The spray characteristics of three different simplex atomizer representing increasing area of inlet tangential ports are examined using water as a working fluid. Measurements of coefficient of discharge, spray cone angle, Sauter mean diameter and droplet size distribution were carried out over wide range of injection pressure. Coriolis mass flow meter was used to measure coefficient of discharge. Spray cone angle was measured by image processing technique. Sauter mean diameter and droplet size distributions were measured by Malvern droplet sizing instrument. It was observed that with increase in area of inlet tangential ports the size of air core produced along the center line reduced, which increases the coefficient of discharge. Spray cone angle decreases with increase in area of inlet tangential ports. It was found that increase in area of inlet tangential ports reduces swirl strength inside swirl chamber, which results in increasing Sauter mean diameter. Better droplet size distribution was observed for lower area of inlet tangential port configuration. The obtained experimental results were compared with experimental correlations available in literatures. Deviations in the obtained experimental results and experimental correlations was observed. This is due to difference in the size of atomizer used and difference in experimental techniques used between the present work and other investigations.