The experimental study on the flow characteristics for a swirling gas–liquid spray atomizer

A new spray atomizer, that is, swirling gas–liquid spray atomizer, is presented in this paper based on the analysis of various air-assist atomizers and their atomization mechanism. The air-to-liquid mass flow rate ratio (ALR) of the atomizer during the hot-state tests is 4–6% (by compressed air for emulsified heavy oil). And it is of excellent atomization. The discharge coefficient and the spray cone angle of the atomizer are studied systematically. The influence factors considered are as follows: the structure parameters, ALR and the viscosity of the liquid. Through the experiments, the formula of discharge coefficient and the spray cone angle of the atomizer are given in the paper. And it can give good direction on the atomizer design. The atomizer can be employed in the industrial furnaces and other equipments where the liquid must be atomized.