Date of Award

1994

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Chemical Engineering

First Advisor

Arthur M. Sterling

Abstract

An improved numerical method suitable for multidroplet calculations has been developed. With this improved method the combustion of droplets in a linear array can be simulated much more efficiently. The improved method is first applied to a viscous flow heat transfer model. In this model, momentum and heat transfer results are obtained for a linear array of an arbitrary number of solid spheres at any Reynolds number. The accuracy, flexibility and efficiency of the new method is shown in this model. The method is then used to include liquid-phase motion and a finite-rate, one-step chemical reaction in the gas phase. It is observed that at least four droplets must be included to describe completely the combustion behavior in a linear array. The results also clearly indicate that an evaporation model cannot be used to explain combustion behavior. Finally, the method is applied to the unsteady state combustion model in which the full Navier-Stokes equations are used. The grid system, droplet size, velocity, and spacing are all made time dependent in this model. The results show that combustion behavior is similar to evaporation behavior at small times. However, as time increases, the combustion behavior for trailing droplets is significantly changed due to an enveloping flame. Eventually, the whole system is affected by strong droplet-droplet interaction.

Pages

184

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.5786

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