Molecular dynamics simulation on micro-explosion of water-in-oil droplets in presence of solid particles or electric field

MR Wei and SW Yang and HL Ju and GL Guo, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER, 196, 123263 (2022).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2022.123263

The effects of solid particles or external electric field on the whole micro-explosions, especially bub-ble nucleation, were explored by molecular dynamics simulation. The corresponding reasons are also re- vealed. For this purpose, a water-in-oil droplet in nitrogen environment were constructed and the whole micro-explosion processes were simulated. Bubble nucleation time and nucleation temperature were es-timated and compared with the cases in presence of solid particles or an electric field. The energy, force and coordination number of the water sub- droplet were explored to clarify the effects of the solid parti-cles or an electric field. Results indicate that the presence of solid particles or an electric field can shorten the nucleation time and lower nucleation temperature, which are effective ways to control the micro -explosion process. Adding solid particles can weaken the potential restriction on water molecules, which much facilitates water molecules evaporations, and the effect is positive correlation with solid particle sizes. The effect of an external electric field on micro-explosion is essentially caused by the reduction of electrostatic potential. In the alternating electric field case, the reason for the faster temperature rise and the shorter nucleation time is that the sinusoidal change of the electrostatic force.(c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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