Library Subscription: Guest

ISSN Online: 2377-424X

International Heat Transfer Conference 3
August, 7-12, 1966, Chicago, USA

FILMWISE AND DROPWlSE CONDENSATION OF STEAM AT LOW PRESSURES

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC3.100
pages 300-305

Abstract

Since the discovery that the dropwise condensation of steam gave heat transfer coefficients much greater than those for filmwise condensation, there has been a continuing interest in trying to use this as a means of improv:i.ng the performance of heat transfer equipment. Considerable experimental and theoretical information is now available on this subject but one area apparently neglected concerns the effects of lew absolute pressures on the condensation process. This is of considerable importance to the designer of steam turbine condensers where the lowest practicable pressure is being sought at the heat rejection end of the steam cycle. This paper presents the results of laboratory experaments on a single tube condenser operating over the range of pressures 0.35 − 8 ins. mercury absolute at various heat loadings and covering both filmwise and dropwise condensation conditions.