Drop laden flows

Abstract

Drops play a pivotal role in both environmental systems and industrial processes, where their physical properties, dynamics, and interactions have far-reaching implications across diverse domains. In environmental contexts, water droplets are central to critical phenomena such as carbon dioxide exchange at the ocean-atmosphere interface, cloud formation, and precipitation—all of which are essential to agriculture, climate regulation, and ecosystem sustainability. In industrial applications, drops underpin technologies such as spray systems, coatings, inkjet printing, and fuel injection systems. Their behavior governs key processes like heat transfer, material deposition, and combustion efficiency, offering opportunities for innovation and enhanced performance across various sectors. The multiscale nature of drop-laden flows — ranging from molecular-scale interfacial dynamics to macroscale phenomena — poses significant challenges for numerical or experimental approaches. This necessitates the development of models capable of bridging these disparate scales effectively. This paper provides a concise overview of the current state of the art in drop-laden flow research, reviewing experimental and computational techniques. Additionally, it outlines key challenges and proposes strategic guidelines to shape future investigations, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary efforts to address unresolved questions and drive progress in this multifaceted field