Hydrogen peroxide droplet gasification and decomposition: Classic evaporation model vs. conjugate model

• Published in: Thermal science and engineering progress 2024-08, Vol.53, p.102713, Article 102713
• Main Authors: Vasheghani Farahani, Hossein, Mahdi Tahsini, Amir, Hossein Sharifi Ilkhchi, Amir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Classic evaporation model; Conjugate heat transfer; Decomposition; Droplet cloud; Evaporation; Hydrogen peroxide; Numerical simulation
• ISSN: 2451-9049
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102713

•Evaporation of hydrogen peroxide droplet cloud is numerically studied.•The main focus is on the impacts of gas phase thermal decomposition on the regression rate.•Two different viewpoints using the classic evaporation model and conjugate heat transfer model are investigated.•It is shown that for a single droplet in an open surrounding, the gas phase decomposition may create narrow hot region around the droplet that augments its regression rate, while there is no change in overall gas phase temperature. This behavior can be computed just by using the conjugate model.•The impacts of droplet size, ambient pressure, and ambient temperature on regression rate augmentation due to decomposition are analyzed.•It is illustrated in a closed vessel problem that the maximum regression rate of droplets is almost 52 percent under-predicted in classic evaporation model, and their lifetime is also 15 percent over-predicted in comparison with using the conjugate model. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the evaporation of hydrogen peroxide droplet and the impacts of gas phase thermal decomposition on this process. Two different flow solvers are developed for analysis where one uses the classic evaporation model, and the other solves the conjugate heat transfer problem considering temperature distribution within both gas and liquid phases accurately. The finite volume method is utilized to solve the governing equations of the reacting two-phase flow. Single droplet evaporation in the hot open surrounding is analyzed first to illustrate the effect of gas phase decomposition on droplet regression rate. It is shown that the decomposition changes the temperature distribution around droplet that leads to higher regression rate by increasing the heat transfer from the gas phase into the liquid phase. This cannot be captured using the classic model and must be studied by conjugate model. In addition, the effects of droplet radius, ambient pressure, and ambient temperature on the regression rate augmentation due to decomposition are investigated for single droplet. Finally, evaporation and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide droplet cloud in a closed vessel is simulated and it is demonstrated that conjugate model has more accurate prediction than the classic model and must be used in practical studies especially when the transient processes are drastic.