CS-20-TR Condensation of Immiscible Fluids Outside Plain Tubes

S. N. Ritchey

2018

HTRI investigated condensation of a water/octane mixture outside a plain tube bundle. Tests were conducted in the Low Pressure Condensation Unit (LPCU) at three different vacuum pressures and five different vapor inlet flow rates. Almost all of the measured compositions varied from the azeotrope composition. High-speed videos for each case show a continuous film of condensed octane on the tube surface, with beads of condensed water on top. The overall heat transfer coefficients were calculated, and Xace was used to predict the experimental data. The software overpredicts the overall heat transfer coefficients, especially for inlet vapor Reynolds numbers below 1500.