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Condensation of water vapor in rarefaction waves. I - Homogeneous nucleationA detailed theoretical investigation has been made of the condensation of water vapor/carrier gas mixtures in the nonstationary rarefaction wave generated in a shock tube. It is assumed that condensation takes place by homogeneous nucleation. The equations of motion together with the nucleation rate and the droplet growth equations were solved numerically by the method of characteristics and Lax's method of implicit artificial viscosity. It is found that, for the case considered, the condensation wave formed by the collapse of the metastable nonequilibrium state is followed by a shock wave generated by the intersection of characteristics of the same family. The expansion is practically isentropic up to the onset of condensation. The condensation front accelerates in the x,t plane. The results of the computations for a chosen case of water vapor/nitrogen mixture are presented by plotting variations of pressure, nucleation rate, number density of critical clusters, and condensate mass-fraction along three particle paths. Some consideration is given to homogeneous condensation experiments conducted in a shock tube. Although a direct comparison of the present theoretical work and these experiments is not possible, several worthwhile interpretative features have resulted nevertheless.
Document ID
19770032855
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sislian, J. P.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hypersonic Propulsion Branch, Hampton, Va., United States)
Glass, I. I.
(Toronto, University Toronto, Canada)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1976
Publication Information
Publication: AIAA Journal
Volume: 14
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer
Accession Number
77A15707
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: AF-AFOSR-72-2274
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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