Air-water interface boundary condition for the numerical evaporation rate prediction of a horizontal water span under different convection regimes

Abstract

This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the existing numerical models addressing the dynamics of water vapor flux across the air-water interface. Additionally, it introduces a novel model based on the empirical friction velocity of the air over a water surface. This new model is used to predict evaporation rates, especially in the context of wind tunnel experiments where water tanks are subjected to controlled drying conditions. Then, these predictions are compared to both the empirically measured evaporation rates and those generated by other numerical models. A wide range of configurations are simulated to cover the different convection regimes. Overall, these simulations show good agreement between the model's predictions and the observed experimental measurements of evaporation rates, underscoring its robustness and reliability. One notable advantage of this model is its remarkable independence from the convection regime, setting it apart from traditional empirical correlations that typically exhibit such dependencies.