Experimental Characterization of Spray generated by a Rotary Atomizer Wheel

[EN] Rotary atomizers are widely used for spray drying processes to produce powders in various industrial applications. The atomization regime and therefore the droplet size distribution have a substantial impact on the process outcome. Depending on the intended use of the dried powder particles, various droplet size distributions are desired, which should be adjustable by the main operating parameters (e.g. mass flow rate and wheel speed). In this study the spray of a rotary atomizer wheel, operated under normal ambient conditions, is characterized for different mass flow rates, wheel speeds and viscosities with the help of a phase Doppler measurement system. Visual investigations of the spray with a high resolution camera system help to get a better understanding of the atomization process, as well as the thickness of the liquid jets exiting the atomizer.