Thesis
A theoretical and experimental investigation of multi-phase interactions in pure and multicomponent droplet evaporation
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2006
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103108
Abstract
This study addresses the separation between the theoretical and experimental aspect of multicomponent droplet evaporation. This research provides a numerical model and experimental data of the vapor concentration and temperature trends while a series of non-interacting droplets are dispensed through a closed chamber where they evaporate and condense depending on vapor-liquid equilibrium. Droplets composed of pure ethanol, pure water, and various compositions of ethanol and water were tested and modeled in an initial nitrogen or air environment. Such work is important in providing a basic link between the theoretical and experimental understanding of binary droplet evaporation. Research will provide a backbone to future studies involving multicomponent droplet evaporation in sprays. Two one-dimensional models were developed to understand the interactions between mass and heat transfer in multicomponent droplet evaporation; one for an open (or constant pressure) system and the second for a closed system. Numerical data of the vapor concentration profile and vapor temperature profile were compared to experimental data. The models were developed to incorporate the use of a mass transfer matrix composed of binary mass transfer coefficient pairs. This matrix was assumed spatially constant but varied with time depending on temperature and composition of the liquid and vapor phase. The results show that in the case of water evaporation the closed system model over predicts the experimental vapor composition by 2.6%, and over predicts the published psychrometric data by 3.9%. In the case of ethanol evaporation the open system model over predicts the experimental vapor composition by 3.4%. The open system model was also used to model evaporating ethanol-water droplets, under predicting the ethanol vapor composition by 3.7% and over predicting the water vapor composition by 4.4%. Overall, the concept that multicomponent evaporation can be modeled by using a matrix of mass transfer coefficients instead of the simplifying case of an effective diffusion coefficient was shown to be valid in comparison to experimental and published data.
Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
16 Record Views
Details
- Title
- A theoretical and experimental investigation of multi-phase interactions in pure and multicomponent droplet evaporation
- Creators
- Courtney Leigh Herring Bonuccelli
- Contributors
- Richard Zollars (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525090801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis