Heat transfer and film thickness during condensation of steam flowing at high velocity in a vertical pipe

Abstract

In the present study the heat transfer of pure steam flowing downward in a vertical condenser pipe is determined and the thickness of the wavy film is measured using a laser absorption method. The measured data are compared to numerical predictions based on the solution of the conservation equations for mass, momentum and energy for the vapor and liquid phases. The k- ε turbulence model of Jones and Launder is used for both phases. It will be shown that the transition from laminar to turbulent film flow can be predicted reasonably well if the turbulent kinetic energy in the film is conserved to a minimum value.