Computational investigation of single droplet evaporation in a convective flow

Single droplet evaporation in a high-temperature flow stream is studied numerically. The numerical solutions obtained in the Reynolds number range of 10 to 300 and Prandtl number range of 0.7 to 1.5 are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Additionally, the detailed distributions of local Nusselt number and mass evaporation rates along the droplet surface are presented for various Reynolds numbers and Prandtl numbers. It is found that the wake flow, which occurs in the after region of the droplet when Reynolds number is higher than a critical value, affects the heat and mass transfer between the flow stream and the droplet significantly in addition to the narrowed thermal boundary layer. Therefore, the effects of the convective flow on the droplet evaporation should be accounted for by two major factors: the narrowed thermal boundary layer around the droplet and the wake flow behind the droplet.