Numerical Study on the Evaporation of a Non-Spherical Sessile Droplet.

Abstract

To better understand the evaporation of a non-spherical droplet, a two-dimensional simulation was conducted to investigate the evaporation on the asymmetric cross-section of non-spherical sessile droplets, which are characterized by two curvatures with two different contact angles on both sides. The temperature distribution, internal flow, and evaporation flux distribution at a quasi-steady state were revealed to be different from the spherical droplets. When heated from the substrate, the lowest surface temperature moves to the side of higher curvature or larger contact angle, forming a single vortex in the droplet. This single-vortex formation continues to be enhanced by enlarging the contact angle discrepancy. Unlike spherical droplets, the smaller curvature side of a non-spherical sessile droplet will release more evaporation flux. In addition, it is found that the non-spherical sessile droplets could surpass the spherical sessile droplets in evaporation flux.