Liquid atomization in a high intensity sound field

Abstract

Abstract High intensity sound was investigates as a means for liquid breakup. Sonic generators provided energy to atomize liquid introduced near the sound source. Droplet size was measured at several conditions of air and liquid flow for sound intensities ranging up to 160 decibels. Atomization was good at low liquid flows but became rahter coarse as flow rate increased. The droplet size distributions were not uniform. No improvement in breakup could be attributed directly to the sonic compressions and rarefactions beyond that normally produced by the tearing action of air in conventional two‐fluid atomizers at comparable air/liquid ratios.