Replication of Pressure Swirl Atomizer by 3D Printing and Influence of Surface Roughness on the Atomization Quality

Abstract

The replication of atomizers by 3D printing technology is a new approach of producing the pressure swirl atomizers. The surface roughness of 3D printed products and manufacturing accuracy of the 3D printing process influence the atomization of the liquid. The high-speed visualization of a spray, produced by scaled 3D printed atomizer, was performed. The spray stability, cone angle and breakup length were determined. Scaled 3D printed atomizers were tested at equivalent pressures of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 bar. Non-dimensionless parameter, Reynolds number, was preserved for the scaled atomizer. The effect of the surface roughness of the tangential ports, swirl chamber and discharge orifice on atomization was assessed at non-scaled pressure swirl atomizer. The roughness of a swirl chamber was created by corundum and ballotin blasting. The inlet pressures of 2.5, 5 and 10 bar were tested.