Level-set based numerical simulation of film condensation in a vertical downward channel flow

Numerical simulation of film condensation in a vertical downward channel flow is performed by employing the sharp-interface level-set method which can accurately implement the saturation temperature and phase-change mass flux conditions at the liquid-vapor interface. An analytical model for the internal film condensation is also developed by including the effect of vapor flow in the classical Nusselt model. The numerical results for film condensation in the laminar regime show good agreement with the analytical solutions. The level-set method is applied to investigate the effects of vapor velocity and wall temperature on the condensate film thickness and heat flux in the laminar and wavy regimes.