Numerical solutions for the Nusselt number during the direct contact evaporation of a moving drop in a stagnant column of immiscible liquid are presented. The effect of bubble growth rate on the radial component of drop velocity is taken into account in the analysis and the Nusselt number is found to be a function of Peclet number, Jakob number and vapour open angle. A comparison of theoretical and experimental correlations for the Nusselt number shows good agreement. The analysis also yields information on the temperature profile and the thickness of the thermal boundary layer surrounding the evaporating drop. © 1985 Springer-Verlag.