Prediction of Critical Reynolds Number in Stability Curve of Liquid Jet ( I )

The first maximum point in the stability curve of liquid jet, i.e., the critical point is associated with the critical Reynolds number. This critical Reynolds number should be predicted by simple means. In this work, the critical Reynolds number in the stability curve of liquid jet are predicted using the empirical correlations and the experimental data reported in the literatures. The critical Reynolds number was found to be a function of the Ohnesorge number, nozzle lengh-to-diameter ratio, ambient Weber number and nozzle inlet type. An empirical correlation for the critical Reynolds number as a function of the Ohnesorge number and nozzle length-to-diameter ratio is newly proposed here. Although an empirical correlation proposed in this work may not be universal because of excluding the effects of ambient pressure and nozzle inlet type, it has reasonably agrees with the measured critical Reynolds number.