Heating, evaporation and combustion of a solid aerosol particle in a gas exposed to optical radiation

Abstract

Theoretical investigation is made of heating, evaporation and combustion of a small solid aerosol particle in a gas on exposure to intense optical radiation. The statement of the problem is given and the solution is obtained for quasi-steady-state diffusive-convective heat and mass transfer between the particle and the surrounding gas with allowance for the temperature dependence of the thermophysical and optical parameters and transfer coefficients. Based on numerical solution of the system of equations stated the evaporation of a metal particle in an inert gas and the combustion of a high-melting particle in air on exposure to optical radiation are considered. The time dependencies of the radius and temperature of the particle and of the process parameters are obtained. Comparison of some predicted results with experimental data is given.