Multiphase CFD of microdroplets hitting heated and cooled microstructured surfaces, capturing impact, boiling on hot surfaces and freezing on cold ones.
Sector
Thermal and surface-engineering R&D
Client
Research and development facility
Flow type
Multiphase with boiling and solidification
Project Snapshot
Challenge
Droplets hitting very hot or very cold surfaces combine impact dynamics with rapid phase change. Boiling can lift the droplet on a vapor layer, while freezing can pin it to the surface, and both depend on the surface micro-structure.
Approach
Transient multiphase simulations coupling interface tracking with heat transfer, an evaporation–condensation model for the heated cases and a solidification–melting model with a mushy zone for the cold cases.
Key Findings
- On heated surfaces, vapor generated under the droplet reduced contact and promoted rebound.
- Superhydrophobic micro-structures further shortened contact time, limiting heat transfer to the droplet.
- On cold surfaces, freezing started at the contact area and spread upward, and fast solidification suppressed rebound.
Deliverables
Animations of boiling and freezing behavior, a comparison of surface designs and insight for anti-icing, spray-cooling and thermal-management applications.
Working on a similar problem?
Explore our CFD consulting services or send us your phase-change or multiphase question. If you need this kind of analysis for a real design, our Sydney-based CFD consulting team supports engineering firms and manufacturers across Australia, from scoping to final report.