EFFECTS OF ROTATING GASEOUS FLOWS ON TRANSIENT DROPLET DYNAMICS AND HEATING

In this paper, the effects of rotating gaseous flows on transient drop let dynamics and heating are investigated theoretically. The idealized flow configuration considered involves a periodic linear array of non vaporizing droplets trapped on the axis of a rotating, infinitely long , gaseous cylinder, which drives the droplet spin-up. The effects of t he induced secondary motion and rotational Reynolds number on heat tra nsfer in both phases are examined. The results show that initially qui escent droplets can be rotationally accelerated within relatively shor t time periods compared with their evaporation lifetimes and that the characteristic times for transient heating and spin-up are of comparab le magnitude. In addition, the effects of rotation on droplet heating are found to be insignificant for small droplets (of the order of 100 mu m or smaller) and the corresponding low values of rotational Reynol ds numbers.