A Study of the Molecular Mechanism of Vapour Condensation

Abstract

The condensation coefficient (c.c.) of vapours is investigated on the basis of the transition state theory which is treated in the framework of statistical mechanics of gases and liquids. The theoretical c.c. is reconfirmed to be the ratio of rotational partition functions for liquid molecules to those for vapour ones and is given by thermodynamic quantities available in literature. The applicable limitation of the theory is clarified by comparing molecular flux at the phase boundary with those based on molecular gas dynamics in the special case of mono-atomic molecules. It is shown that the theoretical values of c.c. for water, methaol, carbon tetrachloride, and glycerol vapours are in rather good agreement with experimental ones and are significantly smaller than unity. © 1990, The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved.