The close-coupled atomization nozzle has been in commercial use for making metal powder for almost 100 years. A significant amount of research and computational modeling has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms in which these nozzles function. However, there still is a rift between theoretical predictions and the actual atomization performance of the nozzle. In addition, the theoretical approaches do not address important operational concerns such as freeze-ups and nozzle life. The use of water flow test benches has greatly aided the understanding of the atomization nozzle and has the potential to bridge the gap between theoretical and application. In addition, the use of the flow bench can provide clues to operational phenomenon such as freeze-ups and nozzle life. This paper will demonstrate the use of a water flow bench in quantifying the operation of a close-couples atomization nozzle and correlate the output to actual atomization performance.
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