Title:
Modelling cleaning and decontamination processes at surfaces
Abstract:
In this presentation I will discuss problems associated with the cleaning and decontamination of surfaces. The basic scenario considers the interaction between a cleansing liquid flow applied onto a surface to remove an unwanted miscible liquid substance. This substance is attached to the surface in the form of a droplet. A convective mass transfer establishes at the surface of the drop, dissolving the substance into the cleansing flow. This scenario is typically found in the decontamination of harmful chemicals which may have been spilled onto a solid surface after an accident or a terrorist attack. It is also found in some industrial cleaning processes or in dishwashers, when the flow is not strong enough to detach the drop from the surface. I will discuss models of the convective mass transfer and how it depends on the geometry surrounding the drop, the composition of the drop and the flow properties. I will also show comparison of the model predictions with experimental data and numerical simulations.