Impingement of a liquid jet on an opposing gas jet

Abstract

In contrast to the existing research on the liquid jet colliding with a physical target to produce a single type of liquid sheet or bell, we used an opposing gas jet target to generate a series of diverse shapes of axisymmetric liquid films. Specifically, we experimentally investigated the outcome of a 0.4-mm diameter water jet impinging on an opposing gas jet of 0.3 mm initial diameter. Five different axisymmetric film shapes are identified for the experimental parameters explored in this work, and the momentum flux ratio (X) of the gas jet to the water jet is the dictating factor for the exact film shape: (i) X = 0: smooth bells that share the same shape and profile model with classic water bells of a liquid jet impacting a solid target. (ii) 0 < X < 0.4: crumpled bells being lifted off from the gas nozzle by a thin layer of squeezing gas flow that is quantifiable by the lubrication model. (iii) 0.4 < X < 0.9: transient bells with mildly wrinkled surfaces that undergo periodic cycles from closure to bursting at a gas Reynolds number of ∼2400. (iv) 0.9 < X < 1.4: turbulent parachutes with curved and rough shapes. (v) X > 1.4: turbulent sheets that are flattened and atomized by the relatively strong gas stream. This work demonstrated that an opposing gas jet is a simple yet versatile approach to achieving a rich collection of phenomena by diverting the liquid jet momentum in multiple ways. This investigation aims to explore and rationale the rich phenomenology of water bells resulting from the impingement of a water jet on a gaseous jet target.