Characterization of liquid sheet breakup using numerical experiments

For the plain orifice nozzle configuration, breakup mode analysis of the issuing liquid jet has been extensively, over the years, undertaken. The works of Rayleigh, Haenlein, Ohnesorge, Reitz and others have used an Ohnesorge-Reynolds chart to clearly characterize breakup into four distinct modes. These include: (1) Rayleigh, (2) first wind induced, (3) second wind induced, and (4) prompt atomization. Planar liquid sheet flows have not undergone such intensive characterization analysis. In this work a non-expanding (nor thinning) liquid sheet is injected into a quiescent volume of gas from a planar nozzle of constant opening height. The flow has no co-flowing gas stream nor air-assistance to drive the disintegration. The nozzle configuration and subsequent liquid primary breakup is somewhat similar to an outward opening fuel injector having an annular outlet with a large radius to needle lift height ratio.