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Primary Atomization in an Airblast Gas Turbine Atomizer

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Flow and Combustion in Advanced Gas Turbine Combustors

Part of the book series: Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications ((FMIA,volume 1581))

Abstract

This study focuses on the spray atomization, transport and impact on a solid substrate under cross-flow conditions, as used in airblast atomizers with prefilmers for aero engines and gas turbines. The phenomena are observed using a high-speed video system and the spray is characterized using the phase Doppler technique. The governing mechanisms of drop formation, wall collision and aerodynamic breakup are identified. It is shown that three different mechanisms are mainly responsible for the formation of single drops from the bulk liquid. These are: primary atomization, breakup of the liquid wall film and further aerodynamic breakup of droplets. Finally, an atomization model is developed, which accounts for primary atomization, wall film formation and aerodynamic breakup. The model predicts the distribution of the drop diameters and velocities in the generated spray. The agreement between the model predictions and the experimental data is very good.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the German Research Council (DFG) through the SFB568.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics, Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstr. 30, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    L. Opfer, I. V. Roisman & C. Tropea

  2. Center of Smart Interfaces, Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstr. 32, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    I. V. Roisman & C. Tropea

Authors
  1. L. Opfer
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  2. I. V. Roisman
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  3. C. Tropea
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Opfer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstrasse 30, Darmstadt, 64287, Germany

    Johannes Janicka

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Darmstadt University of Technology, Petersenstrasse 30, Darmstadt, 64287, Germany

    Amsini Sadiki

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Dolivostrasse 15, Darmstadt, 64293, Germany

    Michael Schäfer

  4. Center of Smart Interfaces, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstrasse 32, Darmstadt, 64287, Germany

    Christof Heeger

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Opfer, L., Roisman, I.V., Tropea, C. (2013). Primary Atomization in an Airblast Gas Turbine Atomizer. In: Janicka, J., Sadiki, A., Schäfer, M., Heeger, C. (eds) Flow and Combustion in Advanced Gas Turbine Combustors. Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 1581. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5320-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5320-4_1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5319-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5320-4

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