Modeling of condensation heat transfer in a reactor containment

Abstract

This paper proposes a set of condensation models for forced and natural convection in the presence of a noncondensable gas. A simple model is derived by using the analogy between mass, momentum and energy transfer. The effects of a wavy interface are implemented in this model by using correlations for a rough wall surface. A two—dimensional condensation model using a κ-ϵ model for the turbulent vapor-air flow was also developed to investigate the effect of two—dimensional flow and to provide a sound theoretical basis for the simple model. Each model is compared with the available ‘eparate’ effects' experimental data. The forced convection model is then compared to the Carolinas Virginia Tube Reactor (CVTR) integral test by using the vapor-air velocity predicted by a separate two—dimensional fluid dynamics model. The effect of countercurrent flow is also considered in this comparison. The natural convection model is also compared to the steady-state integral data of Tagami. The comparison shows good agreement with both sets of experimental data.