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Title: Investigating atomization characteristics in an electrostatic rotary bell atomizer
Electrostatic rotary bell atomizers are commonly used in several engineering applications, including the automobile industry. A high-speed rotating nozzle operating in a strong background electric field atomizes paint into charged droplets that range from a few micrometers to tens of micrometers in diameter. The atomization process directly determines the droplet size and droplet charge distributions which subsequently control the transfer efficiency and the surface finish quality. We have previously developed a tool to perform high fidelity simulations of near-bell atomization with electrohydrodynamic effects. In this work, we perform simulations employed with a droplet ancestry extraction tool to analyze previously inaccessible information and understand the physical processes driving atomization. We find that the electric field accelerates breakup processes and enhances secondary atomization. The total number of droplets, the ratio of secondary to primary droplets, and the ratio of coalescence to breakup activity are all much higher when operating in an electric field. We analyze the droplet velocity, local Weber number and charge density statistics to understand the complex physics in electrically assisted breakup. The results of the study have helped us gain insights into the physics of atomization in electrostatic rotary sprays.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1749779
PAR ID:
10536396
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Publisher / Repository:
Elsevier
Date Published:
Journal Name:
International Journal of Multiphase Flow
Volume:
175
Issue:
C
ISSN:
0301-9322
Page Range / eLocation ID:
104814
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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