Molecular dynamic simulation of Argon boiling flow inside smooth and rough microchannels by considering the effects of cubic barriers

Abstract

This paper presents the effects of barriers with cubic geometry on the boiling flow behavior of Argon flow with 10 million atoms flowing inside smooth and rough microchannels using molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) method. Effective parameters of this research are boundary temperature of 108 K on the walls of microchannels to prepare boiling condition and driving forces as much as 0.002, 0.01, and 0.02 eV/Å, which is enforced respectively on the fluid at the inlet of the microchannel. For ease of investigation in comparison to results by statistical method, the cubic shape of roughness barriers is simulated on the surfaces of a smooth microchannel with the same dimensions. Results showed that the presence of cubic roughness elements increases oscillations in density profiles due to their influences in arrangements of argon atoms and their consequences in the diminishing role of the boiling process to move atoms from lateral regions to empty region in the middle section of the microchannel. Also, the statistical approach demonstrated that the presence of cubic roughness elements reduces average velocity as much as 1.8 to 13.59%. Moreover, applying external forces in a range of 0.01 to 0.02 eV/Angstrom brings so turbulences in the rough microchannel that destroys stability and normal distribution of atoms under boiling force which is not applicable for practical application.