CS-24 Shellside Mixture Condensation on Low-finned Tubes in Vacuum Conditions

M. Hawila and J. M. McNaught

2024

This report describes an assessment of the accuracy of HTRI predictions of mixture condensation on low-finned tubes under vacuum conditions. Tests were conducted on a 19.05-mm OD low-finned tube bundle in the Low Pressure Condensation Unit (LPCU) over a range of vacuum pressures (5.75– 93.7 kPa) and inlet vapor Reynolds numbers (1800 – 23000). The data collected showed large underpredictions of the heat transfer coefficient, especially at low Reynolds numbers (< 10000) under light-to-deep vacuum conditions (< 100 kPa). Tests of potential improvements to the HTRI Resistance Proration Method (RPM) are discussed.