Heat and mass transfer in annular liquid jets: I. Formulation

Abstract

Heat and mass transfer phenomena in annular liquid jets are analyzed at high Reynolds numbers by means of a model derived from the governing equations that takes into account the effects of surface tension and boundary conditions at the gas–liquid interfaces and the large differences between the thermal and mass diffusivities, densities, dynamic viscosities, and thermal conductivities between gases and liquids. The model clearly illustrates the stiffness in both space and time associated with the concentration, linear momentum and energy boundary layers, and the initial cooling of the gases enclosed by the jet when, starting from a steady state where gases are injected into the volume enclosed by the jet at a rate equal to the heat and mass absorption rates by the liquid, gas injection is stopped. It is shown that, owing to the non-linear integrodifferential coupling between the fluid dynamics and heat and mass transfer processes, the pressure of the gases enclosed by the jet may vary in either a monotonic or an oscillatory manner depending on the large number of non-dimensional parameters that govern the heat and mass transfer phenomena. For the underpressurized jets considered here, it is shown that thermal equilibrium is achieved at a much faster rate than that associated with mass transfer, double diffusive phenomena in the liquid may occur, and the mass and volume of the gases enclosed by the jet may increase or decrease as functions of time until a steady equilibrium condition is reached.