Multicomponent-liquid–fuel vaporization with complex configuration

An analysis is presented for multicomponent-liquid–fuel vaporization in a general geometrical situation, e.g., a dense spray. Variable transport properties and only Stefan flow are considered. The problem is separated, using a mass-flux potential function, into a one-dimensional problem for the quasi-steady, gas-phase scalar properties and a three-dimensional problem for the mass-flux potential. The theory predicts scalar gas-phase profiles and vaporization rates for any value of the Lewis number. Transient heat- and mass-diffusion in the liquid interiors is considered with special attention given to the fast- and slow-diffusion limits. Eight droplets in a cubic array are considered in the calculations with a blended liquid mixture of heptane, octane, and decane. Comparisons are made amongst the results for the various liquid-diffusion models: transient behavior, the fast-vaporization limit, and the slow-vaporization limit.