Effects of cavitation in a nozzle on liquid jet atomization

Cavitation in two-dimensional (2D) nozzles and liquid jet in the vicinity of the nozzle exit were visualized using high-speed cameras to investigate the effects of cavitation on liquid jet under various conditions of cavitation and Reynolds numbers σ and Re. Liquid velocity in the nozzle was measured using a laser Doppler velocimetry to examine the effects of cavitation on the flow in the nozzle and liquid jet. As a result, the following conclusions were obtained: (1) cavitation in the nozzles and liquid jet can be classified into the four regimes: (no cavitation, wavy jet), (developing cavitation, wavy jet), (super cavitation, spray) and (hydraulic flip, flipping jet), (2) liquid jet near the nozzle exit depends on cavitation regime, (3) cavitation and liquid jet are not strongly affected by Re but by σ, and (4) strong turbulence induced by the collapse of cavitation clouds near the exit plays an important role in ligament formation.