Numerical study on film disintegration by centrifugal atomisation using rotating cup

• Published in: Powder metallurgy Vol. 56; no. 4; pp. 288 - 294
• Main Authors: Liu, J. X., Yu, Q. B., Qin, Q.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Taylor & Francis 01.09.2013; SAGE Publications; Maney
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atomizing; Centrifugal atomisation; Chemical reactors; Disintegration; Drop; Drop size; Exact sciences and technology; Liquids; Mathematical models; Melts; Metals. Metallurgy; Numerical simulation; Particle formation; Powder metallurgy. Composite materials; Production techniques; Rotating; Rotating cup; Technology; Numerical simulation; Particle formation; Rotating cup; Centrifugal atomisation; Drop; Powder metallurgy
• ISSN: 0032-5899; 1743-2901
• DOI: 10.1179/1743290113Y.0000000053

Centrifugal atomisation of liquid or melts using a rotating cup is an efficient process that is widely used in many industrial processes, which range from chemical reactors to powder production in metallurgy. The theoretical prediction of liquid drop or particle size is desirable for the design of atomisers and operating parameters. In this paper, film disintegration by centrifugal atomisation using a rotating cup was analysed based on wave theory. Two mathematical models were proposed to predict the maximum unstable growth rate, wave length, film length, break-up time and drop size for the rotating cup at high and low Weber number respectively. The film break-up length and drop size were calculated numerically and agreed with the experimental results very well in film disintegration. In addition, the effects of the atomisation parameters in the film disintegration were discussed. The mathematical models are able to accurately predict the atomisation parameters.