A review of direct contact condensation of steam on water droplets

Abstract

Direct contact heat transfer is a natural phenomenon that occurs in nature. When steam contacts physically with water droplets, it results in direct contact condensation with high heat transfer rates. Due to its better heat transfer performance as well as its simplicity and less costly in construction and maintenance of equipment, this direct contact condensation is widely used in geothermal power plants, water desalination, chemical and nuclear industries. This paper reviews condensation process of pure and mixture of steam with non-condensable gas regarding to the condensation of steam on water droplets. The presence of non-condensable gases such as air, CO2, H2S, and other gases decrease equipment heat transfer efficiency. The observed parameters, modeling and heat transfer mechanisms are summarized in this paper based on the experimental and theoretical studies conducted by several researchers.Direct contact heat transfer is a natural phenomenon that occurs in nature. When steam contacts physically with water droplets, it results in direct contact condensation with high heat transfer rates. Due to its better heat transfer performance as well as its simplicity and less costly in construction and maintenance of equipment, this direct contact condensation is widely used in geothermal power plants, water desalination, chemical and nuclear industries. This paper reviews condensation process of pure and mixture of steam with non-condensable gas regarding to the condensation of steam on water droplets. The presence of non-condensable gases such as air, CO2, H2S, and other gases decrease equipment heat transfer efficiency. The observed parameters, modeling and heat transfer mechanisms are summarized in this paper based on the experimental and theoretical studies conducted by several researchers.