Condensation in a porous region bounded by a cold vertical surface

Journal Article · Sat Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Heat Transfer (Transactions of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), Series C); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2911871· OSTI ID:5546463

Chung, J N; Plumb, O A; Lee, W C ^[1]

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1. Washington State Univ., Pullman (United States)

The problem of condensation in a porous medium near a cold vertical surface is investigated numerically and experimentally. Numerical solutions to the mathematical model, which assumes that a distinct two-phase zone exists between the liquid and the vapor phases, compare favorably with the experimental results. Experiments were performed for steam condensing in packed beds of glass beads of three different sizes. In the numerical model, the effect of the vapor flow in the two-phase zone is included. The interfacial velocity was determined through the matching of shear stress and a total mass balance. The predicted interfacial velocities are around one to two orders of magnitude smaller than the Darcy velocity. The calculated liquid film thicknesses are on the order of the diameter of the glass beads. The results, presented in dimensionless format, are applicable to transport processes in geothermal reservoirs, steam-driven enhanced petroleum recovery, and a number of industrial applications. 20 refs., 11 figs.

• OSTI ID: 5546463
• Journal Information: Journal of Heat Transfer (Transactions of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), Series C); (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Heat Transfer (Transactions of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), Series C); (United States) Vol. 114:4; ISSN 0022-1481; ISSN JHTRAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
BOUNDARY LAYERS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
LAYERS
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATURAL CONVECTION
PACKED BEDS
POROUS MATERIALS
SIMULATION
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
THERMAL ANALYSIS
TURBULENT FLOW
VAPOR CONDENSATION