Disintegrating supercritical jets in a subcritical environment

Abstract

Abstract Supercritical fluid injection using a single round injector into a quiescent atmosphere at subcritical and supercritical conditions was studied experimentally with particular attention paid to supercritical-into-subcritical injection and the reassertion of surface tension. The entire system was binary since the surrounding atmosphere consisted of an inert gas of a different composition than that of the injected fluid. Average densities and density gradients were quantified and a method was applied to quantify the resulting drop formation due to the disintegration of the jet based on the experimental conditions. The evolution of drop size with distance from the injector was identified.