Experimental and analytical investigations of fluid condensation in a vertical tube

Ilchung Park, Purdue University

Abstract

Experimental and analytical studies were performed to investigate vertical downflow condensation in a vertical tube. A highly instrumented condensation module was constructed in which 3M Fluorinert FC-72 condensed along the inner wall of a precision borosilicate glass tube by rejecting heat to cooling water that was supplied in counter flow through an annulus between the glass tube and an outer polycarbonate plastic tube. A test facility was designed to supply the FC-72 and the cooling water at the desired operating conditions. A high-speed digital video imaging system was employed to capture the interfacial behavior of the condensing liquid film for various flow rates of FC-72 and cooling water to better understand the influences of key flow parameters. Detailed pressure and temperature measurements enabled the determination of the average condensation heat transfer coefficient and exit vapor quality of the condensing flow. The test data were used to verify the accuracy of a computer model previously developed at the Purdue University Boiling and Two-Phase Flow Laboratory (BTPFL). Fair predictions were achieved for both the average convective heat transfer coefficient and exit vapor quality using this model.

Degree

M.S.M.E.

Advisors

Mudawar, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Mechanical engineering

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