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Surface crystallization mechanism of n-hexane droplets

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  • Bian, Jiang
  • Ding, Gaoya
  • Guo, Dan
  • Cao, Hengguang
  • Liu, Yang
  • Cao, Xuewen

Abstract

Revealing the crystallization mechanism of alkane molecules is of great significance to promote the development of the natural gas liquefaction industry. Although many efforts have been made on the crystallization of chain molecules, the surface crystallization mechanism of short-chain alkanes has not yet been solved. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the surface crystallization process of n-hexane nanodroplets and elucidate the surface crystallization mechanism. The results show that the crystallization process of supercooled heavy hydrocarbon droplets can be divided into two stages. The reduction of torsion energy and Lennard‒Jones energy makes important contributions to the droplet crystallization process. The molecules at the vapor-liquid interface tend to be arranged in an orderly manner, and the molecular principal axes are perpendicular to the interface. The molecules at the vapor-solid interface fluctuate strongly along their molecular axes. In addition, the entropy change value for the overall crystalline layer of n-hexane is approximately 1.4 times higher than that of the surface crystalline layer. It is proven that there is a significant energy gain in the surface crystalline layer, which is an important driving force for n-hexane crystallization.

Suggested Citation

  • Bian, Jiang & Ding, Gaoya & Guo, Dan & Cao, Hengguang & Liu, Yang & Cao, Xuewen, 2023. "Surface crystallization mechanism of n-hexane droplets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:263:y:2023:i:pd:s0360544222028079
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.125921
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bian, Jiang & Cao, Xuewen & Yang, Wen & Song, Xiaodan & Xiang, Chengcheng & Gao, Song, 2019. "Condensation characteristics of natural gas in the supersonic liquefaction process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 99-110.
    2. Chen, Lei & Wang, Shanyou & Tao, Wenquan, 2019. "A study on thermodynamic and transport properties of carbon dioxide using molecular dynamics simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1094-1102.
    3. Guo, Dan & Cao, Xuewen & Ding, Gaoya & Zhang, Pan & Liu, Yang & Bian, Jiang, 2022. "Crystallization and nucleation mechanism of heavy hydrocarbons in natural gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    4. Guo, Dan & Cao, Xuewen & Zhang, Pan & Ding, Gaoya & Liu, Yang & Cao, Hengguang & Bian, Jiang, 2022. "Heterogeneous condensation mechanism of methane-hexane binary mixture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
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