Numerical heat transfer analysis of laminar film condensation on a vertical fluted tube

The purpose of this study is to find a convenient and practical procedure for calculating heat transfer of laminar film condensation on a vertical fluted tube. The condensate film on the tube surface along the axial direction was divided into two portions: the initial portion and the developing portion. The developing portion was analyzed in details. The film thickness equation of condensate film over the crest and the momentum equation of condensate film in the trough were established respectively after some simplifications and coupled with two-dimensional thermal conduction equation. The relationship between the heat transfer rate and the length of the flute was obtained through solving the equations numerically. The present procedure was tested on a sinusoidal fluted tube. The amount of heat transfer rates Qt of the tube were calculated at different temperature differences by using this procedure. The calculation was compared with the experimental data quoted. The results were in good agreement with a maximum deviation of 18%. So the present procedure is reliable and can be used in the parameter design of sinusoidal fluted tubes.