Explicit forms for the calculation of heat and momentum transfer coefficients for vapour condensation on surfaces of various forms

Abstract

AbstractA relatively simple method to calculate the heat and momentum transfer coefficients for the laminar condensation of pure vapours on surfaces of various forms is presented.It can be applied generally to surfaces having a variety of geometrical forms. Examples of such applications are presented for the cases of: plane and exponential curved plate profiles, horizontal cylinders, sinusoidal plates and rotating discs and cones.The mathematical treatment leads to explicit expressions for the parameters of the process, among them the heat transfer coefficients. It considers the effects of film acceleration and energy convection.It must be stressed that the method is not intended to bring more precision than existing methods which take into account the mentioned effects, but is proposed as a generalized procedure for geometrical surface forms and also to speed the calculations for complicated condensation surface geometries. A guide for equipment designers is also provided.