Numerical Study on Spreading and Vaporization Process of Liquid Nitrogen Droplet Impinging on Heated Wall

Micro-structured surfaces can affect heat transfer mechanisms because of enlarged specific surface areas. However, employing the Leidenfrost effect during liquid nitrogen (LN2) droplet cooling of a heated micro-structured surface possessing a fin with a spacing much smaller than the diameter of the droplet has not yet been explored. In the present work, a direct numerical simulation (DNS) is carried out to investigate heat transfer mechanisms of the LN2 droplet, whose diameter is sufficiently larger than the structured spacing of fin, impinging on a micro-structured surface with variable velocities. For a comparative study, a smooth surface is also employed in numerical simulations. The spreading mechanisms and vaporization behavior of the droplet along with liquid film morphology at various conditions are investigated. Results show that a smaller fin size inhibits LN2 in entering into the grooves between the fins and left the surface untouched by the droplet completely, and eventually, a thinner liquid film is spread out in contrast to the smooth surface. Notably, at a low Weber number, the droplet can be shrunk or even rebounded away from the wall after impinging on the wall. The fastest vaporization behavior for both surfaces, namely smooth and micro-structured, is obtained at a Weber number of 180. Additionally, an effective heat transfer upon the micro-structured surface is observed at a low impinging velocity of the droplet.

Automated summary

This study investigates the heat transfer mechanisms of liquid nitrogen droplets on a micro-structured surface. The results show that smaller fin sizes inhibit the droplets from entering the grooves between the fins, resulting in a thinner liquid film.