Evaporative Processes and Vapor Nucleation via Molecular Simulations and Theory
Abstract
This report presents a summary of the most important accomplishments within the projects two technical focus areas, both involving molecular dynamics simulations and associated thermodynamics-based analysis. Area 1: Simulation study of evaporation-condensation at aliquid vapor interface this study revealed that the so-called Schrage theory is very accurate in predicting evaporation rates. Furthermore, we developed closed analytical formulas to estimate the degrading role of non-condensing gases on the efficiency of the evaporative cooling process that can be useful for the design of heat pipes with nano and micro dimensions. Finally, we developed interfacial constitutive relationships that render continuum simulations capable of accurate description of evaporative rates even in the cases on nanoscale dimensions and ultra-fast processes. Area 2: Molecular simulations of heterogeneous bubble nucleation processes. In these simulations, we found that in the case of a strong wetting interface, regardless of the topology, the interface does not affect nucleation. Only weaker wetting leads to heterogenous nucleation at the interface. In this case, the easiest nucleation occurs when there is a surface defect with a sizecomparable to that of the critical (homogeneous) bubble nucleation radius. Our findings provide design guidelines for the development of surface grooves that control the generation of vapor bubbles.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1145105
Entities
People
- Pawel Keblinski
- Shekhar Garde
Organizations
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute