Collision Dynamics of A Liquid Fire Suppressant Upon A Heated Wax Surface

Published

July 18, 2003

Author(s)

Samuel L. Manzello, Jiann C. Yang

Abstract

The impact of a distilled water droplet upon a heated wax surface was investigated experimentally using a high-speed digital camera at 1000 frames/s. Two different droplet impact Weber numbers (We) were considered and the collision dynamics were investigated with the temperature of the wax surface varied from 20 C to 75 C. For each impact We number, the evolution of the liquid film diameter was measured as a function of surface temperature. At We = 27, the evolution of the liquid film diameter displayed three distinct regimes: spreading, retraction, and secondary spreading. The liquid film diameter was observed to recoil faster as the surface temperature of the wax was increased. The increase in recoil speed was accompanied by a reduction in the effective Ohnesorge number (Oh). At We = 150, as the droplet recoiled, an unstable column of fluid was observed to rise above the wax surface. The instability of the fluid column at We = 150 was explained using Rayleigh instability theory. At 75 C, the melting point of the wax, collision dynamics were qualitatively similar to droplet impact on a liquid surface.

Conference Dates

July 13-17, 2003

Conference Location

Sorrento, IT

Conference Title

Proceedings of 2003 ICLASS

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

droplet, fire suppression, impact

Citation

Manzello, S. and Yang, J. (2003), Collision Dynamics of A Liquid Fire Suppressant Upon A Heated Wax Surface, Proceedings of 2003 ICLASS, Sorrento, IT, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861229 (Accessed October 17, 2025)