Numerical Analysis of Heat and Mass Transfer From Bubbles, Drops, and Rigid Spheres

Abstract

Steady state heat or mass transfer from spherical objects at low values of the Reynolds number is investigated. Heat or mass transfer to a drop in an electric field; to single translating bubbles, drops, and rigid spheres; and to rigid and fluid spheres in shear flow is considered. The energy equation is solved using finite difference techniques. A method known as upwind differencing is used in approximating the convective terms. Far from the sphere, a 'transmitting' boundary condition is introduced; the dimensionless temperature is held zero for inward radial flow and the dimensionless temperature gradient is held zero for outward radial flow at a fixed distance from the sphere's surface. Heat transfer results are obtained for the creeping flow for Peclet numbers up to 10('3).