ABSTRACT
Most previous studies have used air as the atomizing uid in air-assist or air-blast
sprays [1{5]. Our current level of understanding is only based on atomization
using air as the uid. Previous studies have also shown that physical and chemi-
cal properties of the gas have a signicant in uence on atomization quality [1, 2].
The atomization gases examined were argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and air.
These gases were used to study the eect of gas density and heat capacity on
the atomization quality. The eect was examined by maintaining the mass or
momentum ux of atomization gas xed to the fuel nozzle. The results showed
that maintaining a constant-momentum ux with the dierent gases yields the
same size distribution. Enrichment of atomization air with oxygen was also
found to have a signicant eect on the ame dynamics and ame radiation
characteristics [3].