Diffusion dominated evaporation in multicomponent lattice Boltzmann simulations

Area of Science:

• Computational physics
• Fluid dynamics
• Thermodynamics

Background:

• Evaporation is a critical process in many scientific and industrial applications.
• Accurate modeling of evaporation, especially for small systems, remains a challenge.
• The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) offers a powerful tool for simulating complex fluid phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a diffusion-dominated evaporation model using the pseudopotential multicomponent LBM.
• To analytically compute diffusion coefficients and verify Fick's law.
• To investigate the evaporation dynamics of planar films and freely floating droplets.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the pseudopotential multicomponent lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) developed by Shan and Chen.
• Performed analytical computations of diffusion coefficients.
• Validated the model against analytical predictions for planar film evaporation.
• Simulated the evaporation of freely floating droplets.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that the developed LBM model obeys Fick's law of diffusion.
• Achieved agreement between the model's prediction and analytical results for the time evolution of planar film interfaces.
• Confirmed the significant influence of Laplace pressure on the evaporation dynamics of small droplets.

Conclusions:

• The presented LBM model is a valid and effective tool for simulating diffusion-dominated evaporation.
• The model accurately captures the behavior of both planar films and small droplets.
• Laplace pressure is a crucial factor to consider when modeling the evaporation of micro-scale droplets.