The effect of temperature difference (Tsat − Tcoolant) on condensation heat transfer coefficients inside horizontal tubes is investigated in detail. Condensation experiments are conducted on propane inside a 7.75 mm horizontal tube at four temperature differences between the test fluid and coolant at three mass fluxes and four saturation temperatures. The heat transfer coefficient is shown to increase with temperature difference, with this effect diminishing with larger temperature differences, and being most significant at higher saturation temperatures. Heat transfer coefficients at the low-reduced pressures (Pr = 0.25) corresponding to lower saturation temperatures (30 °C) are mostly unaffected by the temperature difference. Subcooling of the condensate is expected to increase heat transfer coefficients at the larger temperature differences. Flow visualization studies are used to explain the inadequacy of the Nusselt film theory for the conditions investigated. The underlying mechanisms are also used to explain why the correlations from the literature do not predict the observed trend, and a new correlation to account for the effect of temperature difference is developed.
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Effect of Temperature Difference on In-Tube Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficients
Malcolm Macdonald,
Malcolm Macdonald
Sustainable Thermal Systems Laboratory,
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, GA 30382
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, GA 30382
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Srinivas Garimella
Srinivas Garimella
Sustainable Thermal Systems Laboratory,
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Love Building, Room 340,
801 Ferst Drive,
Atlanta, GA 30382
e-mail: sgarimella@gatech.edu
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Love Building, Room 340,
801 Ferst Drive,
Atlanta, GA 30382
e-mail: sgarimella@gatech.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Malcolm Macdonald
Sustainable Thermal Systems Laboratory,
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, GA 30382
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, GA 30382
Srinivas Garimella
Sustainable Thermal Systems Laboratory,
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Love Building, Room 340,
801 Ferst Drive,
Atlanta, GA 30382
e-mail: sgarimella@gatech.edu
GWW School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Love Building, Room 340,
801 Ferst Drive,
Atlanta, GA 30382
e-mail: sgarimella@gatech.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF HEAT TRANSFER. Manuscript received June 25, 2015; final manuscript received August 13, 2016; published online September 20, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Jim A. Liburdy.
J. Heat Transfer. Jan 2017, 139(1): 011502 (9 pages)
Published Online: September 20, 2016
Article history
Received:
June 25, 2015
Revised:
August 13, 2016
Citation
Macdonald, M., and Garimella, S. (September 20, 2016). "Effect of Temperature Difference on In-Tube Condensation Heat Transfer Coefficients." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. January 2017; 139(1): 011502. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034495
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