Flashing and shattering phenomena of superheated liquid jets

Abstract

Depending on the preset conditions, a flashing liquid jet can either shatter or remain in the form of an irregular continuous column after being released from the nozzle to the flashing chamber. Four physical characteristics of a flashing liquid jet in the field of low pressure have been unveiled, namely, non shattering liquid jet, partially shattering liquid jet, completely shattering liquid jet but in stagewise sequence and flare flashing liquid jet. Temperature distribution of the liquid jet along the axial direction is determined to be exponential and varies according to the liquid jet type. Other analyzed characteristic trends include radial temperature distribution of the liquid jet, droplet size distribution and volumetric flowrate distribution in the dispersed jet. In addition, the contribution of bubble nucleation and growth to the liquid jet shattering in the field of low absolute pressure is hereby made clear.