Numerical simulation of droplet-formation in rotary atomizer

Numerical simulations of the liquid flow scattering from rotary atomizers are performed using an incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The influence of grooves at the edges of the atomizers on the formation of ligaments and droplets is investigated changing the numbers and shapes of the grooves. As a result, it is found that small droplets are likely to be generated when the number of grooves is large and the depth of grooves is deep. It is also found that the grooves work more effectively in bell-cup atomizers than in disk type atomizers. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.