Supercritical dissolved gas atomization (SDGA) is an atomization process in which carbon dioxide at temperatures and pressures above its critical point is used as atomizing gas. In this work SDGA has been experimentally studied when ethanol is used as the liquid to be atomized. The spray characteristics in terms of droplets size and distribution have been investigated using a droplet size analyzer based on a laser diffraction method. Very narrow droplet size distributions were produced down to 2.5 μm. The main parameter that influences the droplets size is the gas to liquid mass ratio. From the point of view of the atomization mechanism, mean droplet diameter is mainly influenced by the two phase (gas liquid) flow formed within the atomization nozzle. The overall analysis of the experimental data confirms that dissolved gas atomization allows the formation of micrometric droplets that can be useful in fine-particles production processes.
USE OF SUPERCRITICAL CO2 AS DISSOLVED GAS FOR THE ATOMIZATION OF ETHANOL
CAPUTO, GIUSEPPE;LIPAROTI, SARA;ADAMI, RENATA;SESTI OSSEO, Libero
2011-01-01
Abstract
Supercritical dissolved gas atomization (SDGA) is an atomization process in which carbon dioxide at temperatures and pressures above its critical point is used as atomizing gas. In this work SDGA has been experimentally studied when ethanol is used as the liquid to be atomized. The spray characteristics in terms of droplets size and distribution have been investigated using a droplet size analyzer based on a laser diffraction method. Very narrow droplet size distributions were produced down to 2.5 μm. The main parameter that influences the droplets size is the gas to liquid mass ratio. From the point of view of the atomization mechanism, mean droplet diameter is mainly influenced by the two phase (gas liquid) flow formed within the atomization nozzle. The overall analysis of the experimental data confirms that dissolved gas atomization allows the formation of micrometric droplets that can be useful in fine-particles production processes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
