Stream-wise Discharge Characteristics of Pendant Sprinkler Sprays

Abstract

Detailed atomization measurements in actual sprinklers are needed for proper spray specification in suppression modeling and analysis. In basic pendant sprinkler configurations, the spray originates from two streams corresponding to flow deflected along the tines of the pendant and flow passing through the void spaces between the tines. In this study, measurements of flow splits (between space and tine streams), sheet breakup distances, drop size, and drop velocity measurements were performed over a range of sprinkler geometries and injection pressures to characterize the near-field sprinkler spray. These detailed measurements were used to support the development of scaling laws describing the effects of injector geometry and injection conditions on sprinkler discharge characteristics.