Two-phase modelling of laminar film condensation from vapour–gas mixtures in declining parallel-plate channels

A two-phase model is presented that analyzes laminar film condensation from mixtures of a vapour and a non-condensing gas in parallel-plate channels. The channel is declining (inclined downward from the horizontal) and has an isothermal cooled bottom plate and an insulated upper plate. The model uses a finite volume method to solve the complete two-phase boundary-layer equations including inertia forces, energy convection, interfacial shear, and axial pressure change. Results are presented for steam–air mixtures in terms of axial variation of film thickness and local Nusselt number for various Froude numbers, inlet Reynolds numbers, inlet gas mass fractions, and inlet temperature differences. Profiles of axial velocity, temperature, and gas mass fraction are also presented. Increasing the angle of declination (decreasing the Froude number) produces thinner, faster moving films. The change in local Nusselt number with Froude number was not as substantial as the change in film thickness. The detrimental effect of the noncondensable gas on the heat transfer rate was observed to be more pronounced at higher Froude numbers. An exact analytical solution for the liquid and mixture axial velocity profiles under end of condensation conditions is also presented and compared with the numerical results.