Quality estimation of the nozzle spray by measuring the brightness of the reflected light

This paper presents the results of the laboratory and numerical experiments performed to measure the sizes of transparent liquid droplets sprayed in air. The results of the laboratory experiments were mainly obtained using the Glare Point Technique (GPT) which gave information about the droplet size and the brightness of the light reflected by drops. The relationship between the brightness of the light reflected from the surface of droplets and their sizes was analyzed. Theoretically, the brightness of light scattered by a single spherical drop is proportional to the drop surface area and, accordingly, to the square of the drop diameter. It has been observed experimentally and verified numerically that the theoretical dependence obtained is relevant only for the brightest droplets because of nonuniform illumination. The results of the numerical experiments with a random sample of drops indicated the dependence of the total brightness of reflected light on the effective droplet size. It is shown that, for a fixed total volume, the total brightness of light reflected by drops is proportional to the droplet Sauter mean diameter.

CONTROL OF FINGERING INSTABILITY BY VIBRATIONS

In applications involving the injection of a fluid in a porous medium to displace another fluid, a main objective is the maximization of the displacement efficiency. Displacement fronts moving in porous media are subjected to hydrodynamic instability when a liquid of low viscosity displaces a high-viscosity liquid and consequently finger-like structure forms along the interface. This finger instability is usually undesirable in technical applications and natural filtration processes. We discuss the external periodic forcing as one of the promising ways to control the instability and perform numerical simulation of an initially spherical drop in a porous media under vertical vibrations. The drop is favorable object to study since in this case one can observe the effect of vibrations on fluid interface domains inclined by different angles with respect to vibration axis. It is shown that under vibrations small-scale perturbations of interface are suppressed and in the case of vibrations of large enough intensity the drop becomes stable. The stability criterion is derived.

First Record of Cacopsylla pulchella (Hemiptera, Psyllidae) in Croatia

The aim of this study is to identify plant lice Cacopsylla pulchella a new alien insect in the fauna of Croatia. We propose a new method of infestation level assessment in order to assess the potential of this insect as a pest. In May 2020 samples were collected from eleven locations in Croatia, where Cercis siliquastrum is grown in parks. Adults and nymphs of C. pulchella were collected together with a plant material and brought to entomological laboratory for further analysis. Field research was performed in order to assess the distribution and infestation intensity across various localities in Croatia. The intensity of infestation was assessed heuristically by visual examination and was categorized in four categories: 0) no infestation, 1) low, 2) moderate and 3) high infestation. C. pulchella was confirmed on C. siliquastrum in eleven localities in Croatia. Most of the infested trees had a low or moderate intensity of infestation. Damages caused by this insect are due to the emission of honey dew, a small spherical drop covered with waxy secretion causing necrotic areas which could lead to the premature fall of the leaves. It is not known what kind of progress in infestation intensity could be expected so infested trees found in this study should be checked closely in the coming years. It is strongly suggested to continue the monitoring of this alien insect on C. siliquastrum in Croatia and to estimate its potential of become an invasive pest which could endanger ornamental and other values of its hosts.

Some Features of the Ultrasonic Liquid Extraction of Metal Ions

The non-linear equation of the radial oscillations of a liquid ball in an immiscible liquid under the exposure of time-varying sound pressure was obtained. The behavioral features of a liquid spherical drop placed in such a media were analyzed in the presence of ultrasound irradiations. The slowing-down effect of the extracted metal ions under its exposure has been studied for the first time, using theoretical and experimental approaches. This phenomenon mechanism was revealed, and analytical equations for the mass transfer rate as a function of the sound pressure oscillations amplitude and the substrate ultrasonic treatment time are presented. Experimental studies of Fe3+ ions extracted from chloride and nitrate solutions in systems based on water-soluble polymers were carried out, and a convincing coincidence with the results of theoretical calculations was established. The conditions for achieving the desired extraction efficiency when applying the ultrasonic stimulating effect are specified. The derived result opens the complementary possibility in operations, with the separateness of extraction processes, that which has the essential practical importance.

Faraday instability on a sphere: numerical simulation

We consider a spherical variant of the Faraday problem, in which a spherical drop is subjected to a time-periodic body force, as well as surface tension. We use a full three-dimensional parallel front-tracking code to calculate the interface motion of the parametrically forced oscillating viscous drop, as well as the velocity field inside and outside the drop. Forcing frequencies are chosen so as to excite spherical harmonic wavenumbers ranging from 1 to 6. We excite gravity waves for wavenumbers 1 and 2 and observe translational and oblate–prolate oscillation, respectively. For wavenumbers 3 to 6, we excite capillary waves and observe patterns analogous to the Platonic solids. For low viscosity, both subharmonic and harmonic responses are accessible. The patterns arising in each case are interpreted in the context of the theory of pattern formation with spherical symmetry.