Liquid Fuel Evaporation under Supercritical Conditions

Liquid Fuel Evaporation under Supercritical Conditions

Year:    2018

Communications in Computational Physics, Vol. 23 (2018), Iss. 4 : pp. 1241–1262

Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the supercritical mixing process of the n-dodecane/nitrogen binary system. Previous studies have shown the existence of supercritical phenomenon under certain conditions in modern propulsion systems such as diesel engines. However, the physical mechanisms and internal driving forces of this phenomenon are still not well understood. In this paper, we attempt to answer this question through simulating the diffusion and evaporation of gaseous nitrogen and liquid phase n-dodecane. It addresses under what conditions the supercritical transition phenomenon happens and what features the supercritical evaporation process has. A unique configuration is constructed to mimic the evaporation of an n-dodecane thin film in an open nitrogen environment under conditions ranging from subcritical to supercritical. The detailed structure of the liquid-vapor interface during the evaporating process is described and the evaporation rate and the interface thickness are estimated, which show differences between subcritical and supercritical evaporation. Results indicate that under relatively high pressure conditions, the liquid surface transitions into supercritical state, and the liquid-vapor interface expands significantly with vanishing surface tension, leading to a diffusion like mixing process. It is shown that the supercritical evaporation would happen under conditions that correspond to the in-cylinder conditions of a turbo-charged engine.

You do not have full access to this article.

Already a Subscriber? Sign in as an individual or via your institution

Journal Article Details

Publisher Name:    Global Science Press

Language:    English

DOI:    https://doi.org/10.4208/cicp.OA-2016-0252

Communications in Computational Physics, Vol. 23 (2018), Iss. 4 : pp. 1241–1262

Published online:    2018-01

AMS Subject Headings:    Global Science Press

Copyright:    COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

Pages:    22

Keywords:    Molecular dynamics n-dodecane evaporation supercritical.

  1. Atomic-level insights into transition mechanism of dominant mixing modes of multi-component fuel droplets: From evaporation to diffusion

    Gong, Yifei | Luo, Kai Hong | Ma, Xiao | Shuai, Shijin | Xu, Hongming

    Fuel, Vol. 304 (2021), Iss. P.121464

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121464 [Citations: 17]
  2. Investigation on sub-to-supercritical transition of diesel: Gas–liquid interface properties

    Li, Ruina | Zhang, Liang | Song, Yang | Tang, Chunyi | Hu, Quan

    Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, Vol. 45 (2023), Iss. 3 P.9359

    https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2023.2237967 [Citations: 0]
  3. Phase transitions of multi-component fuel droplets under sub- and supercritical conditions

    Gong, Yifei | Xiao, Guowei | Ma, Xiao | Luo, Kai Hong | Shuai, Shijin | Xu, Hongming

    Fuel, Vol. 287 (2021), Iss. P.119516

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119516 [Citations: 35]
  4. Comparison of evaporation rate constants of a single fuel droplet entering subcritical and supercritical environments

    Ju, Dehao | Huang, Li | Zhang, Kangping | Ye, Ming | Huang, Zhong | Yi, Gao

    Journal of Molecular Liquids, Vol. 347 (2022), Iss. P.118346

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2021.118346 [Citations: 10]
  5. Study on interface characteristics of n-heptane spray in sub/supercritical conditions

    Li, Ruina | Zhang, Liang | Song, Yang | Qian, Yikai | Wang, Zhong | Pei, Yiqiang

    Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, Vol. 46 (2024), Iss. 1 P.2109

    https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2024.2302943 [Citations: 0]
  6. A molecular dynamics study of evaporation mode transition of hydrocarbon fuels under supercritical conditions

    Gong, Yifei | Ma, Xiao | Luo, Kai Hong | Xu, Hongming | Shuai, Shijin

    Combustion and Flame, Vol. 246 (2022), Iss. P.112397

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2022.112397 [Citations: 15]
  7. Interfacial Properties of Linear Alkane/Nitrogen Binary Mixtures: Molecular Dynamics Vapor–Liquid Equilibrium Simulations

    Morrow, Brian H. | Harrison, Judith A.

    The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol. 126 (2022), Iss. 23 P.4379

    https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00688 [Citations: 1]
  8. Classical and reactive molecular dynamics: Principles and applications in combustion and energy systems

    Mao, Qian | Feng, Muye | Jiang, Xi Zhuo | Ren, Yihua | Luo, Kai H. | van Duin, Adri C.T.

    Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Vol. 97 (2023), Iss. P.101084

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2023.101084 [Citations: 59]
  9. Molecular dynamics study on the interfacial characteristics in the process of sub/supercritical evaporation

    Yang, Shuwen | Guo, Guanlun | Wei, Mingrui

    Journal of Molecular Liquids, Vol. 368 (2022), Iss. P.120693

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120693 [Citations: 6]