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Molecular simulations of droplet evaporation by heat transfer

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Abstract

Droplet evaporation by heat transfer is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations for a pure Lennard-Jones fluid. Two different initial conditions are treated: (1) a droplet surrounded by its vapor in equilibrium, (2) a cold droplet surrounded by warm vapor. In both cases heat is transferred from a heat bath. Results are the numbers of droplet molecules N d and density, drift velocity, and temperature profiles as functions of time. For the small droplets considered N d depends on the definition of a droplet molecule. The density profiles as function of time show a transition from a droplet with liquid–vapor interface to a cluster of interfacial type and finally to the gas state. The temperature at a given time is nearly constant within the droplets or clusters but strong gradients occur in the gas. In case of evaporation of a cold droplet surrounded by warm vapor we observed initially cooling down of the droplet corresponding to pressure jump evaporation and thereafter slower evaporation because of lower initial state vapor density.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge that J. Vrabec, Gaurav Kumar Kedia, G. Fuchs, and H. Hasse from Universität Stuttgart have made available to them results from their paper (Vrabec et al. 2006) prior to publication. One of us (S.S.) gratefully acknowledges a fellowship in the program ASEA-Uninet sponsored by Österreichischer Akademischer Austauschdienst (Austrian Academic Exchange Service) and the European Union.

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  1. Institut für Verfahrens- und Energietechnik, Universität für Bodenkultur, Muthgasse 107, 1190, Wien, Austria

    Siswo Sumardiono & Johann Fischer

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  1. Siswo Sumardiono
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  2. Johann Fischer
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Correspondence to Johann Fischer.

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Sumardiono, S., Fischer, J. Molecular simulations of droplet evaporation by heat transfer. Microfluid Nanofluid 3, 127–140 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-006-0110-y

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