ATOMIZATION CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH–FLOW VARIABLE–ORIFICE FLOODING NOZZLES
Droplet spectra factors for variable–orifice flooding nozzles in quasi–static air were investigated to possibly aid 
the reduction of spray drift, and to provide a basis for future atomizer design. A laser–diffraction instrument measured the 
droplet size spectra of water sprays through orifices with diameters ranging from 1.14 to 6.35 mm. Spray discharge flow rates 
up to 40 L min –1 were measured with a Coriolis–type sensor. Nozzles produced an array of droplet size spectra with volume 
median diameters (Dv0.5) ranging from 296 to 1062 m. For single–orifice flooding nozzles, orifice diameter was the most 
important factor positively correlated with droplet size spectra factors, except the Dv0.9. For flooding nozzles utilizing two 
orifices in series, the magnitude of difference between the two orifice diameters was the most important factor positively 
correlated with droplet size spectra factors. In addition, two–orifice flooding nozzles had strong negative correlations 
between pressure and droplet size factors, whereas single–orifice flooding nozzles had strong positive correlations between 
flow rate and droplet size factors. A unique flow—pressure phenomenon, in which flow decreased or remained steady with 
increasing pressure, was observed for some orifices and pressures, possibly due to orifice inlet limiting conditions. The use 
of regression coefficients predicted most droplet size spectra factors with coefficients of determination (r 2 ) ranging from 0.72 
to 0.91, except for low r 2 values (0.11 to 0.50) associated with the Dv0.9 of single–orifice nozzles.