GENERAL FILM CONDENSATION CORRELATIONS

Abstract

A comprehensive film condensation heat transfer correlation, established on the basis of analytical and empirical results from the literature, is in excellent agreement with all existing data. It incorporates the effects of interfacial shear stress, interfacial waviness, and turbulent transport in the condensate film. The usefulness of this correlation is demonstrated for annular-film condensation inside tubes. This correlation can easily be incorporated into condensing models once the interfacial shear stress is known. Two cases, cocurrent annular-film condensation inside vertical and horizontal tubes and countercurrent annular-film reflux condensation such as occurs inside the two-phase closed thermosyphon, are used to demonstrate this procedure.