Classical Nucleation Theory and Its Application to Condensing Steam Flow Calculations

The paper discusses the classical theory of the homogeneous nucleation of water droplets from supersaturated vapour and its application in predicting condensation in steam nozzles. The first part consists of a review of classical nucleation theory, focusing on the many modifications made to the original Becker-Döring theory and providing some new insights into recent developments. It is concluded that the predictive accuracy required for engineering calculations is not yet attainable with a theory derived from first principles. The areas that require most attention relate to the properties of small molecular clusters and the energy transfer processes in the non-isothermal theory. Experiments in converging-diverging nozzles provide the best means for validation at the very high nucleation rates of interest, but measurements of pressure distribution and the Sauter mean droplet radius are insufficient to provide independent checks on the separate theories of nucleation and droplet growth. Nevertheless, a judicious choice for the nucleation rate equation, in combination with a standard droplet growth model and a suitable equation of state for steam, can provide accurate predictions over a wide range of conditions. The exception is at very low pressures where there is evidence that the droplet growth rate in the nucleation zone is underestimated.