Numerical study of the micro-jet formation in double flow focusing nozzle geometry using different water-alcohol solutions

Belšak, Grega (author), Bajt, Saša (author), Šarler, Božidar (author)

The purpose of this work is to determine, based on the computational model, whether a mixture of a binary liquid is capable of producing longer, thinner and faster gas-focused micro-jets, compared to the mono-constituent liquids of its components. Mixtures of water with two different alcohols, water + ethanol and water + 2-propanol, are considered. The numerical study of pre-mixed liquids is performed in the double flow focusing nozzle geometry used in sample delivery in serial femtosecond crystallography experiments. The study reveals that an optimal mixture for maximizing the jet length exists both in a water + ethanol and in a water + 2-propanol system. Additionally, the use of 2-propanol instead of ethanol results in a 34% jet length increase, while the jet diameters and velocities are similar for both mixtures. Pure ethanol and pure 2-propanol are the optimum liquids to achieve the smallest diameter and the fastest jets. However, the overall aim is to find a mixture with the longest, the smallest and the fastest jet. Based on our simulations, it appears that water + 2-propanol mixture might be slightly better than water + ethanol. This study reveals the dominant effect of liquid viscosity on the jet breakup process in a flow focusing nozzles operated under atmospheric conditions.

• Language: English
• Keywords: micro-jets, double flow focusing nozzle, water and ethanol mixture, water and 2-propanol mixture
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 14, iss. 13, art. 3614
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135639
• UDC: 532.525:519.6
• ISSN on article: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14133614
• COBISS.SI-ID: 68503555
• Publication date in RUL: 23.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials
• Shortened title: Materials
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.07.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: mikro curki, šoba z dvojnim fokusiranjem, mešanice vode in etanola, mešanica vode in 2-propanola