This study models the internal fluid flow from the center to the edge of a rotary atomizer wheel, the flow out of the atomizer, including the film, rivulet and ligament formation, as well as the subsequent atomization process associated with the atomizer outflow using computational fluid dynamics with a volume of fluid approach.

The model shows how fluid exits through the overflow and not through the bushing at high inlet fluxes and can reproduce experimental results of power consumption. Furthermore, the drop-size distribution at a given distance from the bushing exit is in good agreement with experimental results.

Keywords: Spray drying; Rotary Atomizer; CFD; Droplet size; Volume of Fluid.