Multi-scale flow atomization characteristics of Jatropha biodiesel swirl liquid film breakup

The characteristics of the spray and droplets produced by liquid film breakup are crucial for understanding the atomization process in industrial furnace atomizers. This study employed high-speed camera technology to capture images of Jatropha biodiesel (JB) spray at various pressures and Ohnesorge numbers (Oh). Image processing methods were employed to analyze the evolution morphology and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of fuel swirl spray, revealing the instability, breakup length, spray cone angle, fractal characteristics of the liquid film breakup zone, and droplet distribution characteristics. The results indicated that the JB jet evolution progressed through stages: cylindrical jet, torsion liquid film, open swirl, complete swirl, and fully developed mode. The evolution and disintegration of the liquid film exhibited a complex structure with ligaments, perforations, and droplet separation. Flow disturbances induced the Klystron effect, characterizing microscopic droplet motion. As spray pressure increased, the growth rate of the disturbance wave increased, the breakup length decreased, the atomization cone angle enlarged, and the fractal dimension (FD) of the liquid film breakup zone increased. The droplet size distribution followed a log-normal distribution, with a substantial increase in the number of small droplets as injection pressure increased. This study provides valuable insights into the multiscale flow atomization of biodiesel in industrial furnace, and is of great significance for the design, operation, and optimization of spraying systems in various industrial applications.