On Some Theoretical Aspects of The Evaporation Process of a Droplet and Its Optimal Size When Extinguishing Fires

Abstract

We are proposing a model mathematical description of droplet evaporation using the kinetic approach. We have obtained the basic equation of the theory by using the law of conserving the full power of the vapor–liquid system, which has not been done before. We have found the range of droplet sizes at which it is stable. We have given a comparison of the obtained results with the known traditional ones. We have given numerical estimates for the critical size of the fine-dispersed phase up to the value of which ordinary evaporation takes place (that is for Knudsen number Kn=lR, inequality Kn≪1 must be fulfilled, where l− is the free path of the molecule and R− is the droplet radius). We have given the optimal droplet size which is the most effective from the point of view of technical use in extinguishing flammable oil transformers.

Keywords

• Knudsen number
• free path length
• kinetic theory