Numerical Study of Droplet Evaporation in a High-Temperature Stream

Numerical solutions for high-temperature air flowing past water and methanol droplets and solid spheres, and superheated steam flowing past water droplets were obtained in the Reynolds number range of 10 to 100. The coupled momentum, energy, and specie continuity equations of variable thermophysical properties were solved using finite difference techniques. The numerical results of heat transfer and total drag agree well with existing experimental data. Mass transfer decreases friction drag significantly but at the same time increases pressure drag by almost an equal amount. The net effect is that the standard drag curve for solid spheres can be used for evaporating droplets provided the density is the free stream density and the viscosity of the vapor mixture is evaluated at an appropriate reference temperature and concentration. Both the mass efflux and variable properties decrease heat transfer rates to the droplets.