Prediction of Spray Penetration by Means of Spray Momentum Flux

It is known that one of the main parameters that govern the spray penetration development is spray momentum flux. In this paper, a model capable to predict the development of the spray penetration using as an input the temporal variation of the spray momentum flux is presented. The model is based on the division of the momentum flux signal in momentum packets sequentially injected and the tracking of them inside and at the tip of the spray. These packets follow a theoretical equation which relates the penetration with the ambient density, momentum and time. In order to validate the method, measures of momentum flux (impingement force) and macroscopic spray visualization in high density conditions have been performed on several mono-orifice nozzles. High agreement has been obtained between spray penetration prediction from momentum flux measurements and real spray penetration from macroscopic visualization.