VISUAL STUDIES OF FLOW PATTERNS DURING CONDENSATION INSIDE HORIZONTAL TUBES

Abstract
Flow patterns were visually observed during condensation inside three different horizontal condensers. Refrigerants 12 and 113 were used as condensing fluids. The flow pattern results could not be correlated with Baker's map. A modified Baker's map is proposed. It differs from the original map in the relocation of the boundaries of the different flow patterns. The data were best correlated by a map having the liquid velocity and (l-α)/α as coordinates, where α is the void fraction. A new criterion for the transition between spray and annular flows is proposed.