Heating and evaporation of droplets with nano-particles: experimental studies and modelling

The importance of droplets with nano-particles in various engineering and medical applications is well known (heat exchangers, diagnostics of human pathology).

The group at the Novosibirsk Institute of Thermophysics (NIT, Russia) has extensive experience in experimental and theoretical studies of droplets with nano-particles, but they have based their analysis mainly on conventional models for droplet heating and evaporation.

The group at the University of Brighton (UoB, UK) is a well-known centre of experimental and theoretical studies of droplets heating and evaporation, but without taking into account specific contributions of nano-particles.

It is anticipated that the complementary nature of the experience of both groups will allow us to reach a qualitatively new level of our understanding of the processes during heating and evaporation of droplets with nano-particles using a combined experimental and theoretical approach to the problem. The new model to be developed will take into account thermal and species diffusivity, and recirculation inside droplets, as in the models developed previously at UoB, and specific effects of nano-particles on thermophysical properties of liquids. It will be validated using the experimental data to be obtained at NIT.

The exchange of visits will enable a series of lectures to be delivered by Russian academics in the UK and British academics in Russia which will benefit the students and staff at both UoB and NIT. Professor Sazhin has extensive experience in undertaking research in Russia (15.5 years) and the UK (31 years) and is therefore particularly well-suited to promoting collaboration between the two countries.