Numerical simulation of deformation and breakage of compound droplet in air flow

• Published in: Physics of fluids (1994) 2024-02, Vol.36 (2)
• Main Authors: Lv, Chao, Ji, Zhaoxiang, Yang, Tao, Zhao, Hongliang, Zhang, Haiwei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerodynamic forces; Air flow; Cerium oxides; Digital imaging; Droplets; External pressure; Internal pressure; Mathematical models; Simulation; Surface tension
• ISSN: 1070-6631; 1089-7666
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0184711

The deformation process of compound droplets moving in air flow was studied by using volume of fluid model. In this paper, the kinetic process of air-in-liquid CeO2 compound droplets in air flow is reported by numerical simulation. First, the effects of initial velocity, initial diameter, and internal and external pressure difference on droplet behavior were studied when the compound droplets finally reached the morpho-steady state. The self-compiled program is used to process and analyze the digital image of the simulated broken image. The results show that, under the action of four main forces, namely, external aerodynamic force, internal pressure, viscous force, and surface tension, the inner surface of the hollow droplets gradually begins to break and continues to expand to the outer surface to break. With the increase in the pressure difference between inside and outside of the hollow drops, the pores are severely deformed and cracked. The increase in velocity leads to the imbalance of internal and external surface forces caused by the increase in aerodynamic fluctuation on the outer surface of hollow droplets. With the decrease in the diameter of the hollow droplet, the pressure threshold of the droplet breaking decreases and it is easier to break.