A Boundary-Layer Treatment of Laminar-Film Condensation

Abstract

The problem of laminar-film condensation on a vertical plate is attacked using the mathematical techniques of boundary-layer theory. Starting with the boundary-layer (partial differential) equations, a similarity transformation is found which reduces them to ordinary differential equations. Energy-convection and fluid-acceleration terms are fully accounted for. Solutions are obtained for values of the parameter cpΔT/hfg between 0 and 2 for Prandtl numbers between 1 and 100. These solutions take their place in the boundary-layer family along with those of Blasius, Pohlhausen, Schmidt and Beckmann, and so on. Heat-transfer results are presented. It is found that the Prandtl-number effect, which arises from retention of the acceleration terms, is very small for Prandtl numbers greater than 1.0. Low Prandtl number (0.003–0.03) heat-transfer results are given in Appendix 2, and a greater effect of the acceleration terms is displayed.