Parametric Analysis on Water Droplet Dynamics and Phase Change

Abstract

The present paper deepens the analysis on the dynamics and thermal-fluid-dynamics of a sprinkler nozzle-emitted water droplet traveling in air before reaching the ground. The following analysis variables were considered, as main causes of the phenomenon assessed: initial droplet diameter, initial droplet velocity, initial droplet temperature, variable droplet temperature, air temperature, diffusion coefficient of water in air, air relative humidity, inlet droplet throw inclination, thermal radiation, and wind velocity. These variables proved their effect on the droplet travel distance, the droplet time of flight, and the final droplet temperature. The study was carried out thanks to an analytical-numerical model, recently proposed by the same authors of this paper, equipped with a few assumptions that did not alter the realistic description provided. The results proved the effect of each analysis variable and clarify the picture of a complicate yet extremely important phenomenon.