Open Access

ARTICLE

Investigation of Droplet Impact on Hot Surfaces Based on Thermal Lattice Boltzmann Method

Xiaoyan Zhuo¹, Yukun Ji¹, Yatao Ren^1,*, Xuehui Wang², Hong Qi¹
1 School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
2 School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
* Corresponding Author: Yatao Ren. Email:

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2025.074045

Received 30 September 2025; Accepted 18 November 2025; Published online 09 December 2025

Abstract

Flow and heat transfer characteristics during droplet impact on hot walls are pivotal for elucidating the mechanisms of spray cooling and exploring pathways for heat transfer enhancement. When the wall temperature exceeds the Leidenfrost point, a vapor film forms between the droplet and the wall, rendering the heat transfer process highly complex. Furthermore, for droplet impact on curved walls, the presence of curvature introduces additional factors that modify the spreading behavior of the droplet and necessitate in-depth analysis. Therefore, this work investigates the flow and heat transfer dynamics of droplet impact on hot planes and curved surfaces numerically via a pseudopotential multiple-relaxation-time Lattice Boltzmann model. The results reveal that the maximum spreading factor increases with the Weber number, diameter ratio, and Bond number, and marginally with the contact angle. Moreover, the time required to achieve the maximum spreading factor increases with the contact angle. This relationship exhibits a V-shaped trend due to gravitational effects. Furthermore, the total surface heat flux increases with the Weber number but decreases with the contact angle. The results advance the fundamental understanding of droplet impact dynamics on hot curved surfaces, providing practical insights for optimizing spray cooling performance and thermal management systems.

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Keywords

Droplet impact; lattice Boltzmann method; pseudopotential model; curved wall

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