In this work numerical fluid dynamic simulations of a forced flow over a flat plate in a drying channel have been performed to investigate the distribution of the local mass transfer coefficient. The strong influence of the flow conditions on the mass transport could be shown due to occurring backflow vortices and boundary layer separation. The presented numerical results show the range of validity of existing correlations and indicate the exigency of an exact description of the experimental geometry to interpret drying experiments on flat plates in laminar flow. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.