LIQUID JET EVOLUTION FROM A GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC INJECTOR

Liquid particles from the breakup of liquid jets produced by a gas chromatographic syringe autoinjection system were observed and measured experimentally. The particle size depended on the motion of the syringe plunger. Very large, fast-moving particles were observed during accelerating periods of the liquid jet. The injection test chamber temperature affected the downstream particle size by heating the liquid before it left the needle and by evaporation into the hot gas. The particles produced by the water and heptane samples used were large and did not lend themselves to rapid vaporization within the gas stream of the gas chromatographic inlet port. Under such conditions, total sample vaporization must be considered either on the hot inlet port wall or on inserts within the inlet port.