Laminar film condensation on a horizontal wavy plate embedded in a porous medium

The problem of two-dimensional, steady-state film condensation on an isothermal finite-size horizontal wavy plate embedded in a porous medium is studied for the case in which the plate faces upward into a region of dry saturated vapor. Due to capillary effects, a two-phase zone is formed between the liquid film on the cold plate and the vapor zone. Taking the sand-water-steam system for illustration purposes, the results indicate that the inclusion of capillary effects in the liquid film analysis has a significant effect on the computed results for the heat transfer coefficient. The results also reveal that the wave number and the wave amplitude of the wavy plate both have a significant effect on the mean Nusselt number, (Nu) overbar. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.