Influence of Reynolds and Prandtl Numbers on Thin Film Condensation in Forced Convection in a Canal Covered with a Porous Material

Abstract

The numerical study of the condensation in thin layers in forced convection of a saturated pure vapor in a channel whose walls are covered with a porous material is presented. The generalized model of Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer (DBF) is used to describe the flow in the porous medium, while the classical equations of the boundary layer have been exploited in pure liquid. The dimensionless equations are solved by an implicit finite difference method and the iterative Gauss-Seidel method. This study makes it possible to examine and highlight the role of parameters such as the Reynolds number and the Prandtl number on the longitudinal speed and on the temperature in the porous medium and in the pure liquid, and the rate of heat transfer (local Nusselt number). The increase in Reynolds number and Prandtl number results in an increase in longitudinal velocity and temperature. The tangents of the velocity curves at the porous interface on the middle side are smaller than the ones obtained on the liquid side with a Reynolds number and a low Prandtl number. It is also noted that the increase in Reynolds and Prandtl numbers improves the heat exchanges at the interface of the porous medium and the liquid film.