A modified Euler-Lagrange-Euler approach for modelling homogeneous and heterogeneous condensing droplets and films in supersonic flows

The phase change in supersonic flows is of great interest in many industrial applications including steam turbines, nozzles, ejectors and aircraft. However, the phase change phenomenon is still not fully understood due to the completed flow behavior including nucleation, condensation, film generation and shock waves in supersonic flows. In the present study, we proposed a modified Euler-Lagrange-Euler model to explore the internal flow mechanism within supersonic separators. The mutual heat and mass transfer of the gaseous phase, droplets, and liquid film were simulated in supersonic flows. The homogeneous nucleation and growth model was innovatively added to ensure the model’s comprehensiveness. The feasibility of the proposed model was validated by experiments. Then, the interaction of heterogeneous and homogeneous condensation in supersonic condensation flow was excavated for the first time. The results show the heterogeneous droplet diameter’s decrease or concentration’s increase had a significant inhibitory effect on homogeneous condensation. Subsequently, the supersonic swirl field’s generation, the dynamic evolution of the homogeneous/heterogeneous droplet condensation and deposition, the liquid film development, and the heat-mass transfer between them in the supersonic separator were analyzed using the proposed model. Furthermore, the separation capacity of the supersonic separator was evaluated considering the co-action of homogeneous and heterogeneous condensation. Results show that increasing inlet droplet concentration from 0.0001 kg/s to 0.0025 kg/s can increase vapor separation efficiency and dew point depression from 61.39 % to 84.74 % and 19.03 K to 28.28 K, respectively.