Boundary layer and heat transfer in a two-phase gas-evaporating droplet medium

Abstract

An asymptotic model of the flow in the laminar boundary layer of a gas-evaporating droplet mixture is constructed within the framework of the two-continuum approximation. The case of evaporation of the droplets into an atmosphere of their own vapor is examined in detail with reference to the example of longitudinal flow over a hot flat plate. Numerical and asymptotic solutions of the boundary layer equations constructed are found for a number of limiting situations (low droplet concentration, no droplet deposition, significant droplet deposition). The development of the flow with respect to the longitudinal coordinate is studied and it is shown that in the absence of droplet deposition a region of pure vapor may be formed near the surface. Similarity criteria are established and the mechanism of surface heat transfer enhancement is studied for a low evaporating droplet concentration in the boundary layer. In the inertial deposition regime the results of calculating the integral heat transfer coefficient are found to correspond with the experimental data [1].