The effect of turbulent velocity fluctuations on the convective heat transfer to droplets subjected to evaporation and thermolysis

Paper in proceeding, 2016

The effect of turbulent velocity fluctuations on the convective heat transfer to single droplets in a turbulent channel flow are investigated numerically. It is found that for properties relevant to typical liquid spray applications, the convective heat transfer is enhanced with increasing droplet size and bulk Reynolds number. The combined effect of convective heat transfer enhancement and increased driving forces for heat and mass transfer due to droplet dispersion is thereafter investigated for a commercial spray application. The probability distribution functions of droplet properties in the spray are found to be significantly affected by the presence of turbulent velocity fluctuations in the carrier phase.