On the solution of a class of polydisperse spray problems

Abstract

A general method is presented to facilitate the solution of a class of polydisperse spray problems in which a cloud of droplets can be described using a sectional or group model. The procedure involves replacing the original coupled droplet sectional variables conservation equations by a set of uncoupled sectional equations for auxiliary variables. The form of these latter equations is identical to that of the single spray equation for a quasi-monodisperse spray, solutions of which are more readily attainable even for multidimensional spray problems. Thus, these ready-made solutions can be exploited directly for the auxiliary variables, from which solutions can then be constructed in a straightforward manner for the desired original sectional variables. Three illustrative examples for spray diffusion flames with different features of complexity highlight the potential applicability of the proposed method, and indicate the sensitivity of flame characteristics to initial spray conditions and in-spray related phenomena.