Numerical investigation of the gravity effect on two-phase flow and heat transfer of neon condensation inside horizontal tubes

Abstract

The condensation flow and heat transfer characteristics of cryogenic neon inside horizontal tubes with diameters of 1 mm and 2 mm were numerically investigated. The mass flux ranged from 20 to 187 kg/(m2·s) for gravity levels includes zero gravity, Lunar gravity, Martian gravity, and Earth gravity. The effects of gravity on the condensation flow pattern, local condensate film distribution, and local and global heat transfer were analyzed in detail. The gravity effect on the condensation heat transfer showed three states, including enhancement, deterioration and gravity-independence, which were mainly determined by the mass flux and vapor quality. Under normal gravity, the condensation heat transfer coefficients increased with increasing mass flux and decreasing tube diameter. Under low mass flux, the cryogenic neon underwent enhanced condensation heat transfer under zero gravity and reduced gravity in the high vapor quality region but deteriorated condensation heat transfer in the low vapor quality region. By increasing the mass flux, the gravity effect was effectively suppressed, which resulted in gravity-independent behavior of condensation heat transfer in the high vapor quality region. The gravity effect significantly affected the liquid film distribution in the condensation process, with a more uniform distribution of the liquid film appearing along the circumferential direction as the gravity level decreased. However, due to the low surface tension of the deep cryogenic fluid, the condensation interface was more prone to flow instability under reduced gravity levels.