Numerical Investigation of Spray Cooling Dynamics: Effects of Ambient Pressure, Weber Number, and Spray Distance on Droplet Heat Transfer Efficiency

Abbas Golmohammadi, Farshid Darvishi, Eunsoo Choi () and Alireza Ostadrahimi
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Abbas Golmohammadi: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
Farshid Darvishi: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
Eunsoo Choi: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
Alireza Ostadrahimi: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: This research aims to study the spray flow of a droplet on an aluminum surface. Fluid spraying is a significant topic in various strategic industries worldwide. In this study, the commercial software FLUENT 22.3.0 is used to simulate the spray of a droplet with turbulent flow on a surface. We use Gambit for mesh generation to ensure accurate and efficient discretization of the computational domain. Initially, we validate our finite volume method (FVM) by comparing the simulation results with existing experimental data to ensure accuracy. After verifying the numerical methods and boundary conditions, we extend the analysis to explore new scenarios involving different environmental pressures, nozzle-to-surface distances, and heated surface temperatures. The effects of pressure variation on the efficiency of droplet heat transfer are examined within sub-atmospheric and super-atmospheric pressure ranges at different Weber numbers, all below the critical Weber number of the droplet. Additionally, by modifying the model geometry and boundary conditions, the influence of the spray-to-surface distance was examined. The findings show that both pressure changes and the spacing between the spray origin and the surface have a substantial effect on the droplet’s heat transfer performance.

Keywords: spray cooling; droplet; heat transfer; spray distance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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