Simulation of Paint Transfer in an Air Spray Process

Abstract

A methodology for simulating drop transport and deposition in air-spray, paint-application processes is presented. Simulation of the complex physical phenomena involved is made possible through a number of key assumptions based on measurements of typical air paint sprays. The significant advance is the inclusion of the direct effects of turbulent air velocity fluctuations on the trajectories of paint drops via a stochastic separated flow approach. The model accurately predicts the mean air velocity field, paint transfer efficiency, and drop transfer efficiency. Owing to increased inertia, the mechanisms controlling drop transport shift with increasing drop size.