Flow dynamics and heat transfer of a condensate film on a vertical wall—II. Flow dynamics and heat transfer

Abstract

The effects of waves occurring on a falling condensate film on heat transfer have been studied by direct computer simulation. The time-dependent Navier-Stokes and energy equations, as well as the Poisson equation for pressure, have been solved for a condensate film of R11 from the leading edge to 0.6 m with finite difference schemes and non-periodic boundary conditions The waves, which have amplitude of the order of the film substrate, were observed in the region of 200 < Re < 455, and the heat transfer coefficient i.s increased by about 60%, while it is identical with the Nusselt theory at Re < 120. In this simulation range the enhancement of the heat transfer is attributed to the decreasing time averaged film thickness due to waves, and the disturbance effects of the waves are small.