Droplet distributions from the breakup of a cylindrical liquid jet

Abstract

A phase/Doppler particle analyzer is used to measure the size and velocity distributions of the droplets generated by the disintegration of a cylindrical liquid jet. This type of liquid jet breakup is commonly called Rayleigh breakup. Metered liquid flow rates agree with the rates computed from the droplet measurements made with the phase/Doppler particle analyzer. The maximum entropy principle is used to predict the droplet size and velocity distributions. The constraints imposed in this model involve conservation of mass, momentum, surface energy, and kinetic energy. Agreement between measurements and predictions is very good.