Abstract:
A mathematical model for predicting nonequilibrium condensation in high-pressure supersonic flows was established based on phase transition kinetics theory. The nonequilibrium condensation of CO
2 in Laval nozzle was predicted for flue gas (mainly composed of N
2 and CO
2) after desulphurization, denitrification and dehumidification, and the influence of initial saturation on flow behavior and nonequilibrium condensation was elucidated. The results showed that the thermodynamic system entered a nonequilibrium state downstream of Laval nozzle throat, a condensation shock phenomenon occurred at
x=0.09 m, and the nucleation rate rapidly increased from 0 to 6.33×10
22 m
−3·s
−1. After that, metastable molecules aggregated on the surface of condensation nuclei, leading to droplet growth, and the droplet growth rate increased from 0 to 0.04 m/s in a short time. When the initial saturation increased from 0.11 to 0.19, the drop radius of CO
2 increased from 3.72×10
−8 m to 1.74×10
−7 m, an increase of 2.67 times, and the liquid mass fraction of CO
2 increased from 0.044 to 0.081, an increase of 84.1%. Therefore, the initial saturation should be appropriately increased to obtain a larger liquid mass fraction and droplet radius, thus achieving a better carbon capture effect.