Visualization of high speed liquid jet impaction on a moving surface

Area of Science:

• Fluid Dynamics
• Surface Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Understanding liquid jet behavior on moving surfaces is crucial for various industrial processes.
• Existing methods lack the capability to simulate high-speed surface interactions with liquid jets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe two novel apparatuses for investigating liquid jet impingement on high-speed moving surfaces.
• To enable the study of low-Reynolds-number liquid jets impacting surfaces at speeds up to 100 m/sec.

Main Methods:

• An air cannon device accelerates a projectile with a metal surface to 25 m/sec for jet impingement analysis.
• A spinning disk device utilizes a variable frequency drive (VFD) motor to achieve surface speeds up to 100 m/sec.
• High-speed cameras and pressure transducers capture detailed data on the impingement process and outcomes.

Main Results:

• The apparatuses successfully simulate high-speed liquid jet impingement on moving surfaces.
• Analysis of video recordings allows for the classification of impingement outcomes: splash, splatter, or deposition.
• The systems are capable of examining low-Reynolds-number liquid jets on surfaces moving at unprecedented speeds.

Conclusions:

• These apparatuses represent a significant advancement in studying dynamic fluid-surface interactions.
• The developed techniques have potential applications in rail industry, steelmaking, and high-speed 3D printing.
• Further research can leverage these tools to optimize industrial processes involving liquid jet applications.