Experimental measurements of condensation heat transfer with noncondensible gases present in a vertical tube at high pressure
Noncondensible gases may be present in the tubing of steam generators during a small break loss of coolant accident (LOCA) when the decay heat removal mechanism is condensation in the steam generator. Condensation heat transfer measurements were made, with and without noncondensible gases present, using a vertical alloy 600 tube with a 15.9mm OD and an average wall thickness of 0.914mm as a test section. System pressure ranged between 11.0 and 133.8 bar and condensation rates ranged between 660 to 1920 watts, thus covering the range of interest for the small break LOCA. Condensation tests without any noncondensible present indicate that the theoretical equation developed by Nusselt for condensation on a vertical plane surface can be used to compute a conservative estimate of the condensing heat transfer coefficient in the absence of noncondensible gases for pressures up to 133.8 bar. With noncondensible gases present, the data appear to divide into two groups. When the energy removal rate is less than 980 watts, the addition of noncondensible gas exceeding a mole fraction of .007 would cause severe degradation in heat transfer. When the energy removal rate exceeded 1,600 watts, the addition of noncondensible gases in mole fractions up to .035 caused less than a 15 percent degradation in heat transfer. The removal of noncondensible gas in the condensate film is a major difference between these tests where the partial pressure of the noncondensible gas is significant and previous experiments which were carried out at low pressure.
- Research Organization:
- Babcock and Wilcox, Alliance, OH
- OSTI ID:
- 5281059
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-830702-
- Journal Information:
- HTD (Publ.) (Am. Soc. Mech. Eng.); (United States), Journal Name: HTD (Publ.) (Am. Soc. Mech. Eng.); (United States) Vol. HTD-VOL. 27; ISSN ASMHD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
42 ENGINEERING
420400 -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
ACCIDENTS
AFTER-HEAT REMOVAL
ALLOYS
BOILERS
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FILMS
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HIGH PRESSURE
LOSS OF COOLANT
NUSSELT NUMBER
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REMOVAL
STEAM GENERATORS
SURFACES
TESTING
THICKNESS
TUBES
VAPOR CONDENSATION
VAPOR GENERATORS
WALLS