A comparative analysis of the interaction regimes of two drops and their large population in an aerosol cloud

A comparative analysis of experimental results obtained by different researchers using two different experimental approaches is presented: phenomenological (registration of conditions, characteristics and modes of interaction between a drop of a shell and a target drop) and statistical (analysis of collisions of tens and even hundreds of drops of liquids as part of an aerosol). The ranges of Weber criterion values (the basic parameter used for analyzing the effects of collisions of droplets in a gaseous medium) are established, corresponding to bounce, coalescence, reflexive and stretching separation, disruption, according to the results of all considered experimental research. The bounce of droplets upon collision can be observed under the conditions We = 0.35–0.5; the probability of droplet coalescence is maximum in the range We = 1–7.5; it is possible to reliably predict spreading at We = 15–50; splitting of droplets most often occurs at values We > 50. The probability of occurrence of other scenarios in the selected We ranges is not zero. The conclusion about the need to combine experimental techniques to obtain the most reliable data and their further use in the development of prognostic models is formulated.