Physics

Mechanics

Analytical Chemistry (journal)

Engineering

Artificial intelligence

Composite material

Volumetric flow rate

Control (management)

Chemistry

Materials science

Range (aeronautics)

Volume (thermodynamics)

Flow (mathematics)

Computer science

Chromatography

Control theory (sociology)

Coaxial

Nozzle

Volume fraction

Mechanical engineering

Thermodynamics

Atomization and Sprays

We demonstrate a novel implementation of real-time feedback control on the structure of the spray produced by a two-fluid coaxial atomizer. The ratio of angular to longitudinal gas flow rates, called swirl ratio, as well as the total amount of gas co-flow are used as the actuation at the nozzle. The swirling and swirl-free gas flow rates are individually set by the control algorithm, with the control objective set based on an optical attenuation radial profile that is related to the liquid volume fraction across the spray. We analyzed the liquid volume fraction profiles measured in open loop by means of singular value decomposition and principal component analysis (PCA) and found that the different states of the spray across a wide range of operating conditions can be described with fidelity by three principal components. The control algorithm maps the resulting state PCA projections to the control variables. Real time control of the spray is achieved over a wide range of operating conditions (gas-to-liquid momentum 1-20 and swirl ratios 0-1).

FEEDBACK CONTROL OF COAXIAL ATOMIZATION BASED ON THE SPRAY LIQUID DISTRIBUTION