Cross verification of a simplified model of pure steam condensation in a tube bundle using experimental and CFD-simulation data

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of a simplified model of pure steam condensation in a bundle of smooth horizontal tubes. The model was based on classical recommendations for calculating the condensation process in tube bundles. Two different approaches were used to calculate the condensation heat transfer coefficient in the model. First, the inundation effect was not considered, and the average heat transfer coefficient was calculated for condensation on a single cylinder using the Nusselt equation. Second, condensation drainage which is asymmetric to the vertical diameter of the tube was considered. The results of these calculations were verified using available experimental data. The analysis of distributions of condensation local characteristics was presented. The results of detailed CFD simulation using a previously developed author’s model was employed for additional cross-verification of closing equations used in the simplified model.