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Abstract Condensation process, from moist airflow over flat plate is investigated theoretically and experimentally. This process has many important engineering application, such as the processes concerning with moist air treatment. In the theoretical analysis of present work, the flow is assumed to be laminar, steady and of constant physical properties. The process is described by continuity, momentum, energy and mass partial differential equations expressed in Cartesian coordinates system. Due to the nature of the studied problem and with proper transformation of the problem dependent and independent variables, these governing equations are transformed to set of ordinary differential equations. Accordingly, the solution of these equations leads to similar solution of the problem. This solution is obtained by application of the well-known numerical method of Rung-Kutta accompanied with shooting method. According to this solution, one obtains the values of Nusselt and Sherwood numbers for all values of Reynolds number. The test section, of the experimental work is a rectangular duct with cooled bottom. The moist air is forced to flow inside the duct, where some of water is condensed over its lower surface. The values of dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature and relative humidity are measured through out the flow field at different values of flow velocity. In accordance heat and mass transfer coefficients are estimated for different operating conditions. A correlation formula of the problem parameters is proposed. According to the obtained experimental results, the average heat and mass transfer coefficients increases for increasing velocity up to certain value of it then decrease for more increase for increase of it. Comparison is made between present theoretical and experimental results, and with previous available works. As a result of these comparisons, the present proposed theoretical model is fairly valid to describe the process of condensation over cooled flat plate. On the other hand, the obtained experimental results with results obtained in previous work, exhibits good agreement in the studied region. Throughout the present theoretical study, the Reynolds number is of the range of 20,000 to 600,000. The value of Prandtl number is of the range of 0.5 to 0.8. The value of Schmidt number is of the range of 0.5 to 0.8. |