Interaction of Liquid Droplets in Gas and Vapor Flows

Abstract

We investigated the conditions, characteristics, and outcomes of liquid droplet interaction in the gas medium using video frame processing. The frequency of different droplet collision outcomes and their characteristics were determined. Four interaction regimes were identified: bounce, separation, coalescence, and disruption. Collision regime maps were drawn up using the Weber, Reynolds, Ohnesorge, Laplace, and capillary numbers, as well as dimensionless linear and angular parameters of interaction. Significant differences were established between interaction maps under ideal conditions (two droplets colliding without a possible impact of the neighboring ones) and collision of droplets as aerosol elements. It was shown that the Weber number could not be the only criterion for changing the collision mode, and sizes and concentration of droplets in aerosols influence collision modes. It was established that collisions of droplets in a gaseous medium could lead to an increase in the liquid surface area by 1.5–5 times. Such a large-scale change in the surface area of the liquid significantly intensifies heat transfer and phase transformations in energy systems.