Laminar Film Condensation on Nonisothermal and Arbitrary-Heat-Flux Surfaces, and on Fins

Abstract

The class of two-dimensional laminar film condensation problems with variable wall-subcooling, for which the full boundary layer equations admit similar solutions, is identified. The solutions of this problem reveal the limitations of the simple Nusselt-Rohsenow method when it is employed to deal with nonisothermal wall problems. The Nusselt-Rohsenow method is used to treat a wide spectrum of variable wall termpeature problems, and results are compared with the exact solutions. Problems in which the heat flux is arbitrarily specified are considered. Variable wall termperature problems involving axisymmetric bodies and arbitrary variations of gravity are also included. Finally, condensation on fins of various configurations is also treated.