Abstract
We reformulate the kinetic description of binary nucleation in the gas phase using two natural independent variables: the total number of molecules g and the molar composition x of the cluster. The resulting kinetic equation can be viewed as a two-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation describing the simultaneous Brownian motion of the clusters in size and composition space. Explicit expressions for the Brownian diffusion coefficients in cluster size and composition space are obtained. For characterization of binary nucleation in gases three criteria are established. These criteria establish the relative importance of the rate processes in cluster size and composition space for different gas phase conditions and types of liquid mixtures. The equilibrium distribution function of the clusters is determined in terms of the variables g and x. We obtain an approximate analytical solution for the steady-state binary nucleation rate that has the correct limit in the transition to unary nucleation. To further illustrate our description, the nonequilibrium steady-state cluster concentrations are found by numerically solving the reformulated kinetic equation. For the reformulated transient problem, the relaxation or induction time for binary nucleation was calculated using Galerkin's method. This relaxation time is affected by processes in both size and composition space, but the contributions from each process can be separated only approximately.
Recommended Citation
S. P. Fisenko and G. Wilemski, "Kinetics of Binary Nucleation of Vapors in Size and Composition Space," Physical Review E, American Physical Society (APS), Jan 2004.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.70.056119
Department(s)
Physics
Sponsor(s)
United States. Department of Energy
Keywords and Phrases
Boundary Conditions; Free Energy; Kinetic Theory; Approximation theory; Astrophysics; Brownian movements; Differential equations; Galerkin methods; Nucleation; Problem solving; Vapors
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1539-3755; 2470-0045
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2004 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2004
