Modeling of Sessile Droplet Evaporation on Engineered Surfaces

Abstract

The evaporation of sessile drop has a wide range of application that includes printing, washing, cooling, and coating. Due to the complex nature of drop evaporation process, this phenomenon is reliant on several parameters such as ambiance and physiochemical properties of liquid and surface. In the present study, a mathematical model of water droplet evaporation on an engineered aluminum surface is developed. Experimental study is carried out for the validation of code. The data obtained from the simulation is validated against the data obtained from an experimental study as well as the data available in the literature and good agreement was found among them. Post-validation, the effect of surface wettability and environment conditions on a droplet evaporation rate is estimated. It is inferred from the outcomes that the temperature at the apex of the drop varies linearly with the increasing relative humidity. Droplet volume has a significant impact on the evaporation rate and comparatively higher evaporative flux for a smaller volume of the drop with large contact angles. This unveils the possibility of achieving the required evaporation rate by controlling surface wettability and relative humidity conditions near the drop.