Two-dimensional front-tracking model for film evaporation

To understand the physical process involved in film evaporation, a new numerical model is created using coupled quadratic finite element formulation of the conservation equations. The heat transport equation is solved in the three different phases (solid, liquid and vapor) while the Navier-Stokes equation are solved in the two fluids. The gradient discontinuity at the liquid vapor interface provides local value of the evaporative flux density that is directly linked to the interface velocity jump through mass conservation principle and used as boundary condition for two fluid flow computations. Testing on academic cases and application to axisymmetric film evaporation including comparison with experiments are shown. © 2010 IEEE.