Experimental investigation on steam/nitrogen condensation characteristics inside horizontal enhanced condensation channels

Abstract

In order to investigate heat transfer characteristics of steam/nitrogen condensation inside horizontal enhanced condensation channels (HECCs), experiments have been performed, respectively, inside HECC and horizontal circular channel (HCC). HECC is formed by inserting different reinforcers into HCC including horizontal multi-start straight channels (HMSSCs) and horizontal spiral channels (HSCs). Effects of nitrogen mass fractions on average condensation heat transfer coefficients (CHTCs), average outlet condensate mass flowrates (CMFRs), and average steam-side pressure drops (SSPDs) are analyzed, respectively. The results indicate that HECC has better condensation performance than HCC under the same conditions, while average SSPDs of HECC will increase slightly. Then, HMSSC is compared against HCC, and enhancement factors of average CHTCs and average outlet CMFRs are about 1.45 and 1.12, respectively, while the enlargement factor of average SSPDs is about 1.16. Similarly, HSC is compared against HCC, and enhancement factors of average CHTCs and average outlet CMFRs are about 1.25 and 1.05, respectively, while the enlargement factor of average SSPDs is about 1.12.

Keywords

• steam/nitrogen condensation
• horizontal enhanced condensation channels
• criterion correlation
• heat transfer enhancement mechanism