Local and Overall Condensation Heat Transfer Behavior in Horizontal Tube Bundles

Abstract

A numerical investigation has been carried out to determine the effects of condensation inundation, noncondensable gases, and cooling water velocity upon the local and overall condensation heat transfer in horizontal tube bundles. Five inundation correction factors are tested against the experimental data. Comparisons between the predicted results and the experimental data are made in terms of total condensation rates and local heat flux distributions. The effects of noncondensable gases and cooling water velocity are assessed by comparing local heat flux distributions, total condensation rates, and average steam-side and average overall heat transfer coefficients under different inlet air mass fraction and inlet cooling water velocity conditions. A quasi-three-dimensional approach is used in the numerical analysis, in which three-dimensional effects due to the rise of the cooling water temperature along the cooling water flow direction have been included in the simulations. The governing equations are solved in primitive variable form using a semiimplicit consistent control-volume formulation in which a segregated pressure correction-linked algorithm is employed. The modeling is carried out based on porous media concepts using flow, heat, and mass transfer resistances.