Superheated liquid flashing as a way of fine atomization

The results of the experimental investigation of dispersion characteristics of flashing strongly superheated water are presented. It is shown that explosive flashing of metastable superheated water provides fine spraying of the liquid, 65-70% of which, by weight, has a diameter of drops smaller than 3 μm. It is found that the distribution of sprayed drops over the diameter is bimodal. The addition of a surfactant or nanoparticles or an increase in the amount of gas dissolved in the liquid exerts no substantial effect on the spraying characteristics of superheated water. The application of standard instruments of the Malvern Spraytec type does not provide the necessary diagnostics of complex sprays. Superheating water to 220-250°C provided fine atomization of liquid necessary for the effective operation of the system of water injection into the GTU (gas turbine unit) compressor.