Condensation from gas–vapour mixtures in small non-circular tubes

Careful measurements have been made during condensation of steam from steam–air mixtures flowing in a small, flattened, horizontal tube. The ranges of the relevant variables covered (inlet temperature, pressure, air mole fraction and mixture mass flow rate) were chosen to simulate those occurring in an exhaust heat-exchanger tube of a proposed fuel-cell engine. The experimental tube was cooled by water in laminar counter flow to simulate the external heat-transfer coefficient (air flowing over fins) in the application. The total heat-transfer rate was found from the mass flow rate and temperature rise of the coolant. The tube wall temperature was measured by thermocouples attached in grooves along its length. Special arrangements were made to ensure good mixing of the coolant (in laminar flow) prior to measuring the inlet and outlet temperatures. The condensate was separated using a cyclone at exit from the tube. A simple model was developed to predict local and total heat-transfer and condensation rates and local bulk vapour composition, temperature and pressure along the tube in terms of the inlet parameters and the wall temperature distribution. The measured heat-transfer and condensation rates for the tube were found to be in good agreement with the calculated values without having recourse to empirical adjustment.