Evaporation of liquid droplets from a surface of anodized aluminum

The results of study of evaporation of water droplets and NaCl salt solution from a solid substrate made of anodized aluminum are presented in this paper. The experiment provides the parameters describing the droplet profile: contact spot diameter, contact angle, and droplet height. The specific rate of evaporation was calculated from the experimental data. The water droplets or brine droplets with concentration up to 9.1 % demonstrate evaporation with the pinning mode for the contact line. When the salt concentration in the brine is taken up to 16.7 %, the droplet spreading mode was observed. Two stages of droplet evaporation are distinguished as a function of phase transition rate.     

Wetting of liquid droplets on two parallel filaments

Droplet wetting on two parallel filaments may assume a barrel-shaped morphology or a liquid bridge depending upon the filament diameter and spacing, droplet volume, and contact angle. This paper is aimed to examine the dependency of droplet wetting length upon the above parameters. In the process, morphology of either a barrel-shaped droplet or a liquid bridge sitting on two parallel filaments is determined numerically by using surface finite element method (SFEM). Variation of wetting length with contact angle is examined at varying droplet volume, filament spacing, and droplet morphology. It is found that the droplet wetting length increases with decreasing filament spacing ratio as well as contact angle while it also increases with the growth of droplet volume. The dependency of wetting length upon contact angle behaves sensitive to filament spacing in the case of stable liquid bridges, while it exhibits nearly constant sensitivity to the contact angle in the case of barrel-shaped droplets. The quantitative relations yielded in this study can be considered as characteristic curves applicable for a variety of droplet-on-filament systems, particularly useful to wetting property characterization of filaments, micro liquid delivery, biological cell manipulation, etc.     

Numerical simulation of two droplets impacting upon a dynamic liquid film

The impact of droplets on the liquid film is widely involved in industrial and agricultural fields. In recent years, plenty of works are limited to dry walls or stationary liquid films, and the research of multi-droplet impact dynamic films is not sufficient. Based on this, this paper employs a coupled level set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF) method to numerically simulate two-droplet impingement on a dynamic liquid film. In our work, the dynamic film thickness, horizontal central distance between the droplets, droplets' initial impact speed, and simultaneously the flow velocity of the moving film are analyzed. The evolution phenomenon and mechanism caused by the collision are analyzed in detail. We find that within a certain period of time, the droplet spacing does not affect the peripheral crown height; when the droplet spacing decreases or the initial impact velocity increases, the height of the peripheral crown increases at the beginning, and then, because the crown splashed under Rayleigh-Plateau instability, this results in the reduction of the crown height. At the same time, it is found that when the initial impact velocity increases, the angle between the upstream peripheral jet and the dynamic film becomes larger. The more obvious the horizontal movement characteristics, the more restrained the crown height; the spread length increases with the increase of the dynamic film speed, droplet spacing and the initial impact velocity. When the liquid film is thicker, more fluid enters the crown, due to the crown being unstable, the surface tension is not enough to overcome the weight of the rim at the end of the crown, resulting in droplets falling off.     

The ranges of the aerodynamic drag coefficient of water droplets moving through typical gas media

The integral characteristics of the deformation processes of liquid (water) droplets moving through a gas medium (air at a temperature of about 300 K, kerosene combustion products with a temperature of about 1100 K) were experimentally investigated. The initial sizes (characteristic radii) of the droplets varied from 50 μm to 2.5 mm, and the initial velocities, from 0.5 m/s to 5 m/s. Velocities of the gas counter (relative to the direction of droplets displacement) flow weremaintained about 1.5 m/s by means of a special-purpose pressure system. Characteristic “deformation cycles” of droplets, their number, durations, and lengths, and also maximal amplitudes of the deformation process were identified. The ranges of numerical values of the aerodynamic drag coefficients c _d for the characteristic deformation cycles were determined. The influence of droplets velocities and sizes, and also of the gas medium temperature on these parameters was established. Characteristic times of preserving the corresponding droplet forms and c _d values within the range of the most typical deformation cycles were found.     

Peculiarities of high-temperature two-phase flow of combustion products in channels with an intentionally structured system of shock-waves

Theoretical and simulation study was carried out for eliciting conditions when an intentionally formed system of oblique shocks can be used for control of parameters of condensed phase in supersonic flow. The key features of flow were analysed for two versions of duct, which are different in geometry of nozzle and acceleration headpiece. The results confirmed the feasibility of intentional impact on the structure of developing set of shock waves through changes in the duct profile: this would change the particle trajectories. This research was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 05-08-01414-a).     

Polarization of light transmitted through a polymer film with nanosized droplets of liquid crystal

A method is developed for analyzing the state of polarization of a plane wave transmitted through a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) film with nanosized liquid-crystal (LC) droplets. This method is based on the anisotropic-dipole approximation for describing scattering by a separate droplet and on the Foldy-Twersky approximation for describing propagation of light in a film. Equations are obtained that relate the ellipsometric parameters of coherent (direct) light transmitted through a PDLC film to the order parameters that characterize the morphological and structural properties of the film. Elliptic and circular polarizations and the rotation of the plane of polarization of a wave transmitted through a film are investigated under the normal illumination of the PDLC film by a linearly polarized plane wave. The order parameters of the PDLC film are determined as a function of a control field under the transition from a partially ordered structure of optical axes of LC droplets to a homeotropic structure.     

Evaporation of droplets in the two-dimensional Ginzburg–Landau equation

We consider the problem of coarsening in two dimensions for the real (scalar) Ginzburg–Landau equation. This equation has exactly two stable stationary solutions, the constant functions +1 and −1. We assume most of the initial condition is in the “−1” phase with islands of “+1” phase. We use invariant manifold techniques to prove that the boundary of a circular island moves according to Allen–Cahn curvature motion law. We give a criterion for non-interaction of two arbitrary interfaces and a criterion for merging of two nearby interfaces.     

Evaporation rate of PTFE liquid marbles

Liquid marbles are hydrophilic liquid drops encapsulated with a hydrophobic powder. They behave as micro-reservoirs of liquids able to move rapidly without any leakage and are promising candidates to be applied in genetic analysis where 2D microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip methods are used. The manipulation of liquid marbles using gravitational, electrostatic and magnetic fields were recently investigated. In this work, we determined the evaporation rates of PTFE marbles formed by encapsulating PTFE micropowder on a water droplet in a closed chamber where relative humidity and temperature was kept constant. Evaporation rates of PTFE marbles were compared with the rates of pure water droplets in terms of evaporation resistance, ? parameter and it was found that PTFE marbles have longer life-time than water droplets so that ? values were found to increase regularly from 0.365 to 0.627 with the increase of RH of the evaporating medium. The barrier effect of PTFE microparticles at the water-air interface was more effective when water was evaporating slowly. PTFE water marbles have life-time of 26-60 min to retain their spherical shape under normal atmospheric conditions which is suitable for many promising applications in microfluidics, genetic analysis, electromagnetic actuators and valves.     

Direct numerical simulation of diluted combustion by evaporating droplets

Diluted combustion has been studied using DNS in a three-dimensional temporally developing reacting shear-layer with the oxidizer stream laden with evaporating droplets. The gaseous phase is described in the Eulerian frame while the discrete droplet phase is treated in the Lagrangian frame, with strong two-way coupling between the two phases through mass, momentum and energy exchange. Grid-resolution-independent results have been obtained in cases without and with droplets. A comprehensive parametric study has been conducted by varying the initial Stokes number (St₀) and mass loading ratio (MLR₀). Detailed field analysis has been conducted to examine the complex nonlinear interactions among droplet dynamics, evaporation, turbulence and combustion, and so on. Effects of evaporating droplets on averaged flow and combustion quantities have also been presented. In particular, the conditional scalar dissipation rate is found to be enhanced by evaporating droplets, which suggests that they can promote micromixing and combustion under certain conditions, in addition to their roles in combustion suppression. The transport equation for the mixture fraction variance has been analyzed, with a focus on the vaporization-related source terms. Such source terms exhibit more complex local variations in the present shear-flow non-premixed flame configuration, compared with the case in the homogeneous decaying turbulence configuration of Réveillon and Vervisch (2000).     

Low- and high-temperature study of n-heptane combustion chemistry

n-Heptane has been used extensively in various fundamental combustion experiments as a prototypical hydrocarbon fuel. While the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in n-heptane combustion has been studied preferably in premixed flames, this study aims to investigate the combustion chemistry of n-heptane in less-studied diffusion flame and highly rich high-temperature homogeneous oxidation configurations by using a counterflow burner and a flow reactor, respectively. This work addresses the formation of higher-molecular species in the mass range up to about 160 u in both configurations. Samples are analyzed by time-of-flight (TOF) molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) using electron-impact (EI) and single-photon ionization (PI). Highly resolved speciation data are reported. Laminar flow reactor experiments cover a wide temperature range. Especially the measurements at low temperatures provide speciation data of large oxygenates produced in the low-temperature oxidation of n-heptane, which are scarce in the literature. Important precursor molecules for PAH and soot formation, such as C₉H₈, C₁₀H₈, C₁₁H_10, and C₁₂H₈, are formed during the high-temperature combustion process in the counterflow flame, while oxygenated growth species are observed under low-temperature conditions, even at the fuel-rich equivalence ratio of ?=4.00.Numerical modeling for both conditions is performed by using a newly developed kinetic model of n-heptane, which includes the n-heptane and PAH formation chemistry with state-of-the-art kinetic knowledge. Good agreement between model predictions and experimental data of counterflow flame and flow reactor is observed for the major species and some intermediates of n-heptane oxidation. While the concentrations of benzene and toluene measured in the counterflow burner are well-reproduced, the numerical results for flow reactor data are not satisfactory. Differences are found between the formation pathways of fulvene, from whose isomerization benzene is produced in diffusion flame and flow reactor.     

Combustibles,fuels and their combustion products: A view through carbon isotopes

Stable (i.e. non-radioactive) carbon-isotope composition (δ¹³C) in fuels has been extensively used as an indicator of the processes leading to the generation of their parent crude-oil. With the example of those used in Paris (France), this preliminary study isotopically characterizes fuels and combustibles, as well as the isotopic relations existing with their combustion by-products, i.e. gases (CO₂) and particles (bulk carbon). Results show that δ¹³C in fuels is clearly related to their physical state, with natural gas being strongly depleted in ¹³C while coal yields the highest δ¹³C, and liquid fuels display intermediate values. This relation is also valid for combustion gases, although δ¹³C values of combustion particles form a homogeneous range within which no clear distinction is observed. Combustion processes are accompanied by carbon-isotope fractionation (noted Δ¹³C) resulting from the combustion being incomplete. Carbon-isotope fractionation is strictly negative (Δ¹³C = ?1.3‰) during the formation of combustion gases, but generally positive in particle formation even if values close to zero are observed. Using simple mixing equations for describing the closed system formed by fuel, CO₂ and carbonaceous particles, we discuss the carbon budget for spark-ignition (unleaded gasoline) and diesel engines. Stable carbon isotopes corroborate the already-proved superior efficiency of diesel combustion mode compared with spark ignition, as carbon is preferentially transformed into CO₂.     

Electro-optics of bipolar nematic liquid crystal droplets

We directly visualize the response and relaxation dynamics of bipolar nematic liquid crystal droplets to an applied electric field E. Despite strong planar anchoring, there is no critical field for switching. Instead, upon application of E, the surface region first reorients, followed by movement of the disclinations and the bipolar axis. After removing E, elastic forces restore the drop to its original state. The collective electro-optic properties of ordered hexagonal-close-packed monolayers of drops are probed by diffraction experiments confirming the proposed switching mechanism.     

Phase change of a plane wave propagating through polymer dispersed liquid crystal film with nanosized droplets

The coherent field propagation in a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer is described using a method based on the Foldy-Twersky integral equation for the vector case. Expressions for a polarization-independent phase shift and the coherent transmission coefficient of such a layer containing nanodimensional nematic liquid crystal droplets are obtained. Theoretical results for the phase shift are compared to the available experimental data.     

Damping of very soft moving quarks in high-temperature QCD

We determine the analytic expression of the damping rates for very soft moving quarks in an expansion to second order in powers of their momentum in the context of QCD at high temperature. The calculation is performed using the hard-thermal-loop-summed perturbation scheme. We describe the range of validity of the expansion and make a comparison with other calculations, particularly those using a magnetic mass as a shield from infrared sensitivity. We discuss the possible occurrence of infrared divergences in our results and argue that they are due to magnetic sensitivity. Received: 1 September 2000 / Published online: 5 February 2001     

A study of ignition and combustion of liquid hydrocarbon droplets in premixed fuel/air mixtures in a rapid compression machine

The combustion of two fuels with disparate reactivity such as natural gas and diesel in internal combustion engines has been demonstrated as a means to increase efficiency, reduce fuel costs and reduce pollutant formation in comparison to traditional diesel or spark-ignited engines. However, dual fuel engines are constrained by the onset of uncontrolled fast combustion (i.e., engine knock) as well as incomplete combustion, which can result in high unburned hydrocarbon emissions. To study the fundamental combustion processes of ignition and flame propagation in dual fuel engines, a new method has been developed to inject single isolated liquid hydrocarbon droplets into premixed methane/air mixtures at elevated temperatures and pressures. An opposed-piston rapid compression machine was used in combination with a newly developed piezoelectric droplet injection system that is capable of injecting single liquid hydrocarbon droplets along the stagnation plane of the combustion chamber. A high-speed Schlieren optical system was used for imaging the combustion process in the chamber. Experiments were conducted by injecting diesel droplet of various diameters (50 µm < d_o < 400 µm), into methane/air mixtures with varying equivalence ratios (0 < ϕ < 1.2) over a range of compressed temperatures (700 K < T_c < 940 K). Multiple autoignition modes was observed in the vicinity of the liquid droplets, which were followed by transition to propagating premixed flames. A computational model was developed with CONVERGE™, which uses a 141 species dual-fuel chemical kinetic mechanism for the gas phase along with a transient, analytical droplet evaporation model to define the boundary conditions at the droplet surface. The simulations capture each of the different ignition modes in the vicinity of the injected spherical diesel droplet, along with bifurcation of the ignition event into a propagating, premixed methane/air flame and a stationary diesel/air diffusion flame.     

Hydrodynamics of electro-capillarity propelled non-Newtonian droplets through micro-confinements

The European Physical Journal E - No systematic method exists to derive inter-nucleosomal potentials between nucleosomes along a chromosome consistently across a given genome. Such potentials can...