Steam condensation dynamics in annular gap and multi-hole steam injectors

Abstract

In direct UHT (Ultra high temperature) treatment, milk is pumped through a closed system where it is preheated, high temperature heated, cooled, homogenised and packed aseptically [1].Continuous direct steam injection is used to quickly raise the temperature of a product, either for pure heating or for a sterilization process. The injector can be of either annular gap type (also called ring nozzle steam injector), or multi hole type. In this study we have analyzed the details of the condensation process by visualizations and by mapping the temperature fields. It was found that steam condensation in steam injectors is an intense process with heat transfer rates in the order of 1 MW/(m2 K). The steam is always condensed at the equilibrium temperature and the turbulence created in the condensation zone mixes the hot condensate and heated product with the cold product. The efficiency of this turbulent transport determines the sufficient heat transfer area and thus the size of the steam/product interface. If the condensation rate is faster than the steam addition rate the condensation process is unstable which results in detachments, fluctuations, noise and vibrations.