Theoretical analysis of laminar film condensation in a rotating cylinder with a scraper

The rimming film condensation on the inside wall of a rotating cylinder with a scraper is analyzed. The whole cylinder is divided into two regions, one is the so-called boundary layer region where the radial velocity of the condensate is much smaller than the peripheric velocity so that the boundary layer theory is assumed to be valid; the other is the scraper region where because of the disturbance of the scraper the boundary layer theory does not apply. The boundary layer integral method in the boundary layer region coupling with the integral momentum theorem across the scraper region provides a method to determine the velocity, temperature, and film thickness distributions, and heat transfer coefficients. An extensive discussion about the previous models is given. The sublayer flow rate constancy principle and the variability principle of the boundary layer thickness (therefore the interface velocity) at the scraper position with respect to the rotational speed are proposed. The present model greatly improved the prediction of the average heat transfer coefficient. Received on 5 January 1998