NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

PUBLICATIONS

Measurement and Prediction of Infrared Radiation Extinction by Water Sprays

Published

Author(s)

J F. Widmann

Abstract

The optical extinction of infrared radiation by a water spray has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. A theoretical analysis based upon Mie theory for spatially inhomogeneous, polydisperse droplet ensembles was used to predict the extinction of radiation propagating through the spray. The analysis resulted in extinction values over the range of wavelengths from 1 micrometers to 10 micrometers, which constitutes an important range for radiative heat transfer calculations in fires. Phase Doppler interferometry was used to measure the droplet size distributions and spatial variation of droplet number density within the spray. The predictions were validated with transmission measurements obtained as a function of wavelength and position using a blackbody as a radiation source and an infrared spectrograph as the detector.
Citation
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
Pub Type
Journals

Keywords

fire dynamics, Mie theory, phase Doppler interferometry, radiation extinction, thermal attenuation, water droplets, water sprays
Fire and Buildings and Construction

Citation

Widmann, J. (2017), Measurement and Prediction of Infrared Radiation Extinction by Water Sprays, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer (Accessed October 8, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created February 19, 2017
Was this page helpful?