Numerical study of the effect of forced convective flow on dropwise condensation by thermal LBM simulation

Institute of Thermal Engineering, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Str. 7, 09599 Freiberg, Germany

^* Corresponding author: shaofei.zheng@ttd.tu-freiberg.de

Abstract

The enhancement mechanism of forced convective flow on dropwise condensation over a cold spot is numerically investigated by two-dimensional hybrid thermal lattice Boltzmann (LB) model based on the Shan-Chen pseudopotential LB model. After validating the present LB model, dropwise condensation over a cold spot as the nucleation region is simulated. The well-known power law for the growth of a single condensing droplet is demonstrated. Finally, the simulation of dropwise condensation considering the convection flow or not is carried out in the constant contact radius (CCR) mode. Using the CCR model, the effect of contact angle can be also investigated. The result of streamline field indicates that the forced convectional flow complicates the internal flow of droplet and main flow. The dragging force from main flow changes the size of two symmetric vortices inside the droplet. And the channel flow is also strongly influenced by the suction effect caused by condensation at the three phase contact line. By comparison, the heat transfer enhancement of the superimposed flow is not worth mentioning. The present study illustrates the mechanisms of dropwise condensation under forced convectional flow.