HYDRODYNAMIC AND THERMAL ANALYSIS OF RIVULET FLOW DOWN A VERTICAL SOLID SURFACE

Abstract

The hydrodynamics and thermal characteristics of a laminar rivulet flow down a vertical surface are investigated. The velocity distribution within a rivulet is determined numerically by the use of a finite element method. In turn, a regression analysis is performed to fit the numerical data with an assumed closed form function. The breakup of a thin liquid film into rivulets is also considered. Heat transfer characteristics are determined. Nusselt numbers were obtained for the two cases of prescribed constant wall temperature and constant wall heat flux.

Citation

AL‐KHALIL, K.M., KEITH, T.G.J. and DE WITT, K.J. (1991), "HYDRODYNAMIC AND THERMAL ANALYSIS OF RIVULET FLOW DOWN A VERTICAL SOLID SURFACE", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 63-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb017474