A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid Evaporation

Heat conduction in the gas phase may influence liquid evaporation, yet a quantitative characterization of this effect still remains lacking. Here, through dimensionless analysis of the theoretical model for droplet evaporation, two limiting solutions were obtained for the droplet evaporation conside...

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Main Authors: Longfei Xu, Xuefeng Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3233
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author Longfei Xu
Xuefeng Xu
author_facet Longfei Xu
Xuefeng Xu
author_sort Longfei Xu
collection DOAJ
description Heat conduction in the gas phase may influence liquid evaporation, yet a quantitative characterization of this effect still remains lacking. Here, through dimensionless analysis of the theoretical model for droplet evaporation, two limiting solutions were obtained for the droplet evaporation considering heat conduction in the gas phase. Based on these solutions, a dimensionless number, <i>HCg</i>, was introduced to evaluate the influence of heat conduction in the gas phase on liquid evaporation. Further analysis indicates that <i>HCg</i> is a function of the relative thermal conductivity of the surrounding air, the evaporative cooling number of the liquid, and the contact angle of the droplet. Analytical expressions for both <i>HCg</i> and the droplet evaporation rate were acquired by fitting the numerical simulations. These results show that the effect of gas-phase heat conduction can generally be neglected due to the typically small values of <i>HCg</i> but becomes significant in cases involving atmospheres with higher thermal conductivity, liquids with smaller evaporative cooling numbers, or droplets with larger contact angles. This work may provide a simple yet accurate criterion for estimating the effects of gas-phase heat conduction on liquid evaporation.
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spelling doaj-art-2f17c0b776cd41b9b78085709c83dd122025-08-20T03:16:42ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011813323310.3390/en18133233A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid EvaporationLongfei Xu0Xuefeng Xu1School of Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaHeat conduction in the gas phase may influence liquid evaporation, yet a quantitative characterization of this effect still remains lacking. Here, through dimensionless analysis of the theoretical model for droplet evaporation, two limiting solutions were obtained for the droplet evaporation considering heat conduction in the gas phase. Based on these solutions, a dimensionless number, <i>HCg</i>, was introduced to evaluate the influence of heat conduction in the gas phase on liquid evaporation. Further analysis indicates that <i>HCg</i> is a function of the relative thermal conductivity of the surrounding air, the evaporative cooling number of the liquid, and the contact angle of the droplet. Analytical expressions for both <i>HCg</i> and the droplet evaporation rate were acquired by fitting the numerical simulations. These results show that the effect of gas-phase heat conduction can generally be neglected due to the typically small values of <i>HCg</i> but becomes significant in cases involving atmospheres with higher thermal conductivity, liquids with smaller evaporative cooling numbers, or droplets with larger contact angles. This work may provide a simple yet accurate criterion for estimating the effects of gas-phase heat conduction on liquid evaporation.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3233liquid evaporationheat conductiongas phaseevaporative cooling
spellingShingle Longfei Xu
Xuefeng Xu
A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid Evaporation
Energies
liquid evaporation
heat conduction
gas phase
evaporative cooling
title A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid Evaporation
title_full A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid Evaporation
title_fullStr A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid Evaporation
title_full_unstemmed A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid Evaporation
title_short A Dimensionless Number for Evaluating the Influence of Heat Conduction in the Gas Phase on Liquid Evaporation
title_sort dimensionless number for evaluating the influence of heat conduction in the gas phase on liquid evaporation
topic liquid evaporation
heat conduction
gas phase
evaporative cooling
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3233
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AT longfeixu dimensionlessnumberforevaluatingtheinfluenceofheatconductioninthegasphaseonliquidevaporation
AT xuefengxu dimensionlessnumberforevaluatingtheinfluenceofheatconductioninthegasphaseonliquidevaporation