This work studies condensation on horizontal surfaces in the presence of noncondensable gases using linear stability analysis to determine when one-dimensional flow will bifurcate to a higher-order flow due to an adverse density gradient. The problem is solved for the simple single-diffusive case and for the double-diffusive case where the density also depends on either a temperature gradient or a second noncondensable gas species. For the single-diffusive case critical Rayleigh numbers and gas layer thicknesses are obtained for a wide range of Schmidt numbers. Using these results, the quantity of noncondensable required to destabilize a horizontal system can be calculated, and usually will be found to be small.

Issue Section:
Boiling and Condensation
Keywords:
Condensation, Double Diffusion Systems, Flow Instability
Topics:
Condensation, Stability
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