Application of a generalized diffusion layer theory to predict experimental data on condensation of vapor-air mixtures

A solution method applying the generalized diffusion layer theory is developed with a computer program to predict experimental data on condensation of vapor-air mixtures inside a vertical tube. The generalized diffusion layer theory improves the previous theory by taking into account the mass transfer enhancement caused by a larger gradient of the vapor-air mixture molecular weight across the diffusion layer, the effect of which has been neglected by the previous work. The standard deviation of the total condensation heat transfer rates predicted by the present model from those inferred by experimental data is about 32%. Larger standard deviations were reported in other two published methods based on Peterson's diffusion layer theory, even though a smaller set of experimental data was used in these two methods. The proposed solution method can be easily implemented into reactor safety system analysis codes.

Proceedings of the 2006 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, ICAPP'06

Application of a generalized diffusion layer theory to predict experimental data on condensation of vapor-air mixtures Conference Paper