Multivariable theory of droplet nucleation in a single-component vapor

Abstract

The multivariable theory of nucleation [N. V. Alekseechkin, J. Chem. Phys. 124, 124512 (2006)] is applied to the droplet nucleation in a supersaturated single-component vapor; the droplet volume V, temperature T, and volume change rate U=V_dot are the variables of the theory. A new approach based on macroscopic kinetics is developed for the droplet evolution and results in the derived equations for U_dot, V_dot, and T_dot. It is shown that there is no the viscosity effect in the employed ideal gas approximation, so the variable U can be omitted. The nonisothermal effect (the discrepancy between the actual and isothermal nucleation rates) earlier studied numerically is analytically examined here. The calculated steady state distribution function of droplets shows their average overheating relatively the vapor temperature. An inert background gas is shown to diminish the nonisothermal effect in comparison with a pure vapor case.