HOMOGENEOUS NUCLEATION OF SUPERSATURATED WATER VAPOR IN NOZZLES.
Abstract
Existing data on the condensation of seam and moist air in supersonic nozzles are compared with predictions based on nucleation and drop growth theory. The effects of uncertainties in cluster surface energy and also of the large corrections to nucleation theory due to the 'gasification' concept are examined. It is concluded that if the surface tension is assumed independent of curvature and the classical liquid drop theory (based on a stationary liquid drop) is used, the theory is in general agreement with the data. The gasification correction is in accord with experimental data only if the surface tension is considered to rise significantly with curvature (as predicted by Oriani and Sundquist and others). In neither case can the Tolman or Kirkwood-Buff equations be supported. A review of existing data shows that there is some question as to the appropriate value of the condensation coefficient but this is of little consequence as long as the accommodation coefficient for the liquid-vapor surface is taken to be unity. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0611059
Entities
People
- Philip G. Hill
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology