Engineering Creativity Award: Laser Induced Breakup or & Atomization of Small Liquid Jets

流体流动的雾化要求流体流动迅速分解，并产生小液滴的喷雾。目前的方法产生液滴大小的随机分布。这项研究计划的目的是从理论上研究和确定激光驱动雾化器的可行性。雾化器应该能够产生可控的平均液滴尺寸和窄的尺寸分布。本课程将对高频、周期性作用力或轴对称力作用下的射流行为进行理论研究。这项研究的结果将确定特定流体雾化所需的激光脉冲速率、辐射压力和接触面积。将对水、碳氢化合物(汽油)和各种油点进行评估。对激光与流体射流相互作用的研究将确定与流体进行适当能量耦合所需的激光波长，以及获得适当脉冲开关频率的方法。构建了激光驱动雾化喷嘴，并在实验室对其性能进行了实验分析。激光驱动雾化器形成的雾化液滴可以通过高速摄影或激光可视化进行分析。

Atomization of fluid flow requires that fluid flow breakup quickly and produce a spray of small droplets. Present methods produce a random distribution of droplet sizes. The objective of this research program is to theoretically investigate and to determine the feasibility of a laser actuated atomizer. The atomizer should be capable of producing a controllable mean droplet size and a narrow size distribution. A theoretical study of the behavior of a jet with a high frequency, periodically applied side, or axisymmetric force will be undertaken. The results of this study will determine the laser pulse rate, radiation pressure and contact area required for atomization of a given fluid flow. Water, hydrocarbons (gasoline) and variouis points will be evaluated. Study of the laser interactions with fluid jets would define the wavelength of the laser beam required for proper energy coupling to the fluid and the means by which to obtain the proper pulse switching frequency. The laser actuated atomizer would be constructed and an experimental analysis of its performance made in the laboratory. The droplets formed by the laser actuated atomizer would be analyzed either by high speed photography or laser vizualization.