Calculation of vapor mass flux upon isothermal condensation on spherical droplets in a wide range of Knudsen numbers based on the solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation

Abstract

Vapor mass flux density has been calculated on the surface of spherical droplets under almost isothermal conditions. The calculations have been performed at droplet radii corresponding to the free-molecular, intermediate, and continuum flow regimes. The study has been performed by the direct numerical solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation. The method of characteristics has been adapted for describing transfer processes in spherically symmetric systems. The applicability of different simplified approaches to the calculation of mass flux density on droplet surface has been estimated.