Simulation of condensation process with different fluids in micro and nanochannels to investigate the wall material, curvature of the channel, and electric and magnetic fields using the molecular dynamics approach

Abstract

Nowadays, computer simulations are a suitable tool for understanding physical phenomena. This paper examined the condensation process of various fluids in micro/nanochannels (MCs/NCs) using molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). The present study examined the condensation time in MCs and NCs across different base fluid types, atomic materials, the number of atomic curvatures (NAC), and the intensities of electric field (EF) and magnetic field (MF). The results reveal that the time required for phase change (condensation) in the helium (He) fluid-structure was less in MCs (2.91 ns) and NCs (2.72 ns) compared to other samples. Changing the atomic materials of MCs and NCs (copper (Cu), platinum (Pt), and Cu/Pt) showed that Pt reduced the condensation times to 2.62 ns for MCs and 2.58 ns for NCs. To enhance atomic interactions in the simulated MCs and NCs, the NAC was modeled at 1, 2, and 3. Increasing the NAC in MCs and NCs decreased the condensation times from 2.91 ns and 2.72 ns to 2.62 ns and 2.58 ns, respectively. The results indicate that condensation time decreases as NAC increases. Increasing the intensities of EF and MF enhanced a fluid's atomic mobility and kinetic energy (KE). Applying an EF with magnitudes of 0, 1, 2, and 5 V/m increased the condensation times of MCs and NCs from 2.91 ns and 2.72 ns to 3.39 ns and 3.36 ns, respectively. Additionally, changing the intensity of MF altered the phase change times in MCs and NCs to 3.17 ns and 3.15 ns, respectively.