FOAMING OF SPRAYS WITH THE USE OF SCREENS

ABSTRACT

Transformation of liquid sprays into foamed sprays was achieved with the use of a nozzle that contained a screen placed at a distance from the nozzle orifice. The quality of transformation was controlled by the percent open area of the screen with its optimum value being around 46%. Other important spray characteristics that affect the quality of foamed sprays are the spray velocity and distance between screen and orifice. The mechanism responsible for the transformation of liquid droplets into foamed particles is considered to be that of collisions between the liquid droplets and liquid bridges formed in the screen openings. The neck thickness of the liquid bridges depends on the percent open area of the screen. A low percent open area screen results in thick liquid bridges that cannot be effectively penetrated by the liquid droplets. On the other hand, a high percent open area screen results in very thin liquid bridges that are penetrated by the liquid droplets without transforming them into foamed particles.

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Notes on contributors

D. I. Collias

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.