Numerical study of the droplet behavior in a thermal diffusion cloud chamber operating with saline water

Abstract

The droplet behavior in a thermal diffusion cloud chamber (TDCC) using a saline water/helium mixture was studied numerically. A sub-saturated zone was created in the chamber by depositing some salt on the lower plate. In this zone droplets could evaporate and the droplet cloud behavior is then modified. Although the effect of wall heating has little influence on the droplets growth, it strongly affects the droplet trajectories as obtained when convective transfers are accounted for within the TDCC.