Experimental and numerical determination of convective vapour transfer coefficients

An experimental setup was designed for the purpose of validating a coupled CFD-diffusion model. In the CFD diffusion model, heat and mass transport in the air domain is solved using CFD, while, in the material domain, vapour transport is modelled using a control-volume vapour diffusion model. This CFD-diffusion model allows the prediction of the convective vapour transfer coefficient for developing momentum and moisture boundary layers. In the traditional vapour diffusion model, a convective vapour transfer coefficient is used. This model allows the indirect determination of the vapour transfer coefficient from experiments. The experiment consisted of a wind tunnel placed in an environmental chamber with climate control capability. The air flow in the wind tunnel was driven by a variable-control fan that allows for a range of speeds in the laminar regime. Convective vapour transfer coefficients were indirectly determined based on the experimenta measured moisture content changes in the material for a number of air speeds. The results were compared with CFD-diffusion model for the purpose of validation and sensitivity analysis.