Mixed-convection laminar film condensation on a semi-infinite vertical plate

Abstract

A comprehensive study of the problem of laminar film condensation with both a gravitational type body force and a moving vapour concurrent and parallel to the surface has been presented here. It demonstrates where both the body force and vapour velocity are significant through a comprehensive numerical solution obtained by a modified Keller box method. Important parameters governing condensation and heat transfer of pure vapour are determined. A perturbation analysis is applied in the leading edge and downstream regimes. The thin film approximations for the both regimes are obtained and compared with exact numerical solutions.