An all-pressure fluid drop model applied to a binary mixture: heptane in nitrogen

The differences between subcritical liquid drop and supercritical fluid drop behavior are shown to be a direct consequence of the length scales near the fluid drop boundary. Under subcritical, evaporative high emission rate conditions, a film layer is present in the inner part of the drop surface which contributes to the unique determination of the boundary conditions; it is this film layer in conjunction with evaporation which gives to the solution its convective–diffusive character. In contrast, under supercritical conditions the boundary conditions contain a degree of arbitrariness due to the absence of a physical surface, and the solution has then a purely diffusive character. Results from simulations of a free fluid drop under no-gravity conditions are compared to microgravity experimental data from suspended, large drop experiments at high, low and intermediary temperatures and in a range of pressures encompassing the sub- and supercritical regime. Despite the difference between the conditions of the simulations and the experiments, the time rate of variation of the drop diameter square is remarkably well predicted in the linear curve regime. Consistent with the optical measurements, in the simulations the drop diameter is determined from the location of the maximum density gradient. Detailed time-wise comparisons between simulations and data show that this location is very well predicted at 0.1 MPa. As the pressure increases, the data and simulations agreement becomes good to fair, and the possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Simulations are further conducted for a small drop, such as that encountered in practical applications, over a wide range of specified, constant far field pressures. Additionally, a transient pressure simulation crossing the critical point is also conducted. Results from these simulations are analyzed and major differences between the sub- and supercritical behavior are explained. In particular, it is shown that the classical calculation of the Lewis number gives erroneous results at supercritical conditions, and that an effective Lewis number previously defined gives correct estimates of the length scales for heat and mass transfer at all pressures.