In a tube-type condenser involving complete condensation, small changes in the inlet vapor flow rate momentarily cause very large transient surges in the outlet mass flow rate. An Equivalent Single-Tube Model (ESTM), based on the System Mean Void Fraction Model, is developed that predicts these transient flow surges for a multitube system; including the effects of compressibility as well as thermal and flow distribution asymmetry. The model is verified theoretical and experimentally. From a design perspective, the significant value of the ESTM is that it includes the primary physical mechanisms involved in such complex flow transients, yet is simple enough to be solved on typical “spreadsheet” software.
Issue Section:
Phase Change and Multiphase Heat Transfer
1.
Bhatt, B. L., 1978, “An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Various Transient and Oscillatory Flow Phenomena in Two-Phase Condensing Flow Systems,” Ph.D. thesis, School of Engineering, Oakland University, Rochester, MI.
2.
Bhatt
B. L.
Wedekind
G. L.
1980
a, “Transient and Frequency Response Characteristics of Two-Phase Condensing Flows: With and Without Compressibility
,” ASME JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER
, Vol. 102
, No. 3, pp. 595
–600
.3.
Bhatt
B. L.
Wedekind
G. L.
1980
b, “A Self-Sustained Oscillatory Flow Phenomenon in Two-Phase Condensing Flow Systems
,” ASME JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER
, Vol. 102
, No. 4
, pp. 695
–700
.4.
Bhatt, B. L., and Wedekind, G. L., 1984, “An Experimental and Theoretical Study into the Determination of Condensing Length,” Basic Aspects of Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer, 22nd National Heat Transfer Conference, V. K. Dhir, and V. E. Schrock, eds., Niagara Falls, N.Y., pp. 179–183.
5.
Bhatt
B. L.
Wedekind
G. L.
Jung
K.
1989
, “Effects of Two-Phase Pressure Drop on the Self-Sustained Oscillatory Instability in Condensing Flow
,” ASME JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER
, Vol. 111
, pp. 538
–545
.6.
Liao
N. S.
Wang
C. C
1990
, “Transient Response Characteristics of Two-Phase Condensing Flows
,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
, Vol. 16
, No. 1
, pp. 139
–151
.7.
Liao
N. S.
Wang
C. C
Tien
C. L.
1988
, “Analysis of Transient Flow Surge Phenomena in a Single-Tube Condenser
,” International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer
, Vol. 15
, No. 3
, pp. 257
–268
.8.
Rabas
T. J.
Minard
P. G.
1987
, “Two Types of Flow Instabilities Occurring Inside Horizontal Tubes with Complete Condensation
,” Heat Transfer Engineering
, Vol. 8
, No. 1
, pp. 40
–49
.9.
Wedekind
G. L.
Bhatt
B. L.
1977
, “An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation into Thermally Governed Transient Flow Surges in Two-Phase Condensing Flow
,” Preceedings of the Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer Symposium-Workshop, Ft. Lauderdale, FL., Vol. 11, pp. 691–711. Also in, ASME JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER
, Vol. 99
, No. 4
, pp. 561
–567
.10.
Wedekind
G. L.
Bhatt
B. L.
1989
, “Modeling the Thermally Governed Transient Flow Surges Multitube Condensing Flow Systems with Thermal and Flow Distribution Asymmetry
,” ASME JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER
, Vol. III
, No. 3
, pp. 786
–791
.11.
Wedekind
G. L.
Bhatt
B. L.
Beck
B. T.
1978
, “A System Mean Void Fraction Model for Predicting Various Transient Phenomena Associated with Two-Phase Evaporating and Condensing Flows
,” International Journal of Multiphase Flow
, Vol. 4
, pp. 97
–114
.12.
Wedekind
G. L.
Bhatt
B. L.
Roslund
G. L.
1989
, “An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Transient Pressure Drop in Two-Phase Condensing Flow
,” ASME JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER
, Vol. 111
, pp. 546
–551
.13.
Zivi
S. M.
1964
, “Estimation of Steady-State Steam Void Fraction by Means of the Principle of Minimum Entropy Production
,” ASME JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER
, Vol. 86
, p. 247
247
.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 1997
by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.
