Effect and relational analysis of physical parameters on coalescence-induced self-propelled jumping of droplets

Coalescence-induced self-propelled jumping of droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces has been widely concerned because of a great number of potential applications such as in the enhancement of condensation heat transfer, self-cleaning and anti-icing. The droplet jumping phenomenon exists in a gas-liquid two-phase system, and the physical parameters of fluid cannot be ignored. However, there are few reports on the influence of physical parameters on droplet jumping dynamics at present. In this paper, the three-dimensional volume-of-fluid method is used to simulate the coalescence-induced self-propelled jumping behaviors of droplets, then the energy terms are studied, and finally the grey relational analysis method is used to calculate the relation degree of the change of physical parameters (the viscosity and the density) to the real jumping velocity and the real solid-liquid contact time at the droplet departure time, respectively. Based on the changing trend of jumping velocity, the process of coalescence-induced self-propelled jumping can be divided into four stages, namely, the expansion of liquid bridge, the impact between the liquid bridge and the surface, the droplet departure from the surface, and the deceleration and oscillation in the air. Under the condition of dimensionless time, the dynamic characteristics of coalescence and jumping of droplets are affected only by Oh number, which is independent of the viscosity and the density. In addition, the change of Oh number only affects the above third stage of droplet departure from the surface. Under the condition of real time, the varied viscosity has no connection with the real time of droplet coalescence, and it only changes the real time of the third stage before droplet jumping. Meanwhile, the dimensionless jumping velocity decreases with Oh number increasing, while the real jumping velocity increases when the viscosity and the density both descend. According to the calculated results of grey relational degree, the relation between the change of viscosity and the real jumping velocity is greater, while the relation between the change of density and the real contact time is greater. This work not only is favorable for a better understanding of droplet jumping, but also provides more ideas and theoretical bases for follow-up relevant studies.