Numerical study on satellite droplet formation in laminar jet breakup for a liquid droplet radiator

•Breakup behaviors of a laminar liquid jet with continuous droplets formation were numerically investigated.•Effects of We, Oh, Ca, and k on the breakup behaviors of laminar jets were examined.•Effects of satellite droplet formation on uniform droplet streams were analyzed.•Quantitative criteria for identifying three satellite droplet formation regimes were proposed. Liquid Droplet Radiator is promising for the waste heat removal of space nuclear power systems, and droplet properties have an impact on its performance. Breakup behaviors of laminar liquid jets with continuous droplets formation were numerically studied. Results verified that satellite droplets formation would destroy uniform droplet streams. The effects of We, Oh, Ca, and k on laminar jet breakup behaviors were investigated. Increasing Oh shifted jet breakup pattern from downstream pinching to upstream pinching, and it reversed as We increased. The jet breakup was more delayed with Oh increased at low We and jet oscillation amplitude became larger with We increased. At low We, breakup length and breakup time decreased firstly and then increased with k increased, but increased with Ca increased. However, the influence of Ca became slight at high We. Moreover, quantitative criteria were proposed for accurately identifying three satellite droplet formation regimes.