Heat transfer during film condensation inside plain tubes. Review of experimental research

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the published experimental researches on condensation heat transfer inside plain tubes. The existing methods of the research on heat transfer and hydrodynamics have been analyzed and their disadvantages are substantiated (shown). There are considered more than 40 empirical and semi-empirical methods and correlations for prediction of heat transfer coefficients in various heat exchangers, particularly in the evaporative systems of thermal desalinating plants, air conditioning systems, safety systems of reactors, heaters of power plants and condensers of cooling equipment. The given correlations are compared with the experimental data of various authors obtained in the case of condensation of diverse substances in different flow regimes. The correlations are evaluated with the experimental data of different authors for different fluids and flow conditions. According to the comparison performed, the correlations suggested by Thome and others (2003), Cavallini and others (2006), Shah (2015) and Rifert and others (2018) are recommended to be used for the most accurate prediction of heat transfer coefficients in case of condensation of various refrigerants, which in recent years are becoming widespread in power economy (fluid FC-72, methane, carbone dioxide, organic fluids R245fa, Novec®649, HFE-7000, steam, etc.).