Work

Numerical Investigation of Spray Cooling Dynamics: Effects of Ambient Pressure, Weber Number, and Spray Distance on Droplet Heat Transfer Efficiency

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This research aims to study the spray flow of a droplet on an aluminum surface. Fluid spraying is a significant topic in various strategic industries worldwide. In this study, the commercial software FLUENT 22.3.0 is used to simulate the spray of a droplet with turbulent flow on a surface. We use Gambit for mesh generation to ensure accurate and efficient discretization of the computational domain. Initially, we validate our finite volume method (FVM) by comparing the simulation results with existing experimental data to ensure accuracy. After verifying the numerical methods and boundary conditions, we extend the analysis to explore new scenarios involving different environmental pressures, nozzle-to-surface distances, and heated surface temperatures. The effects of pressure variation on the efficiency of droplet heat transfer are examined within sub-atmospheric and super-atmospheric pressure ranges at different Weber numbers, all below the critical Weber number of the droplet. Additionally, by modifying the model geometry and boundary conditions, the influence of the spray-to-surface distance was examined. The findings show that both pressure changes and the spacing between the spray origin and the surface have a substantial effect on the droplet’s heat transfer performance.

Source: Energies

DOI: 10.3390/en18092288

Authors: Abbas Golmohammadi, Farshid Darvishi, Eunsoo Choi, Alireza Ostadrahimi

Institution: Hongik University

Language: English

Topic: Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

Subfield: Computational Mechanics

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation of Korea