Investigation on flow morphology and heat transfer for high-pressure steam condensation in an inclined tube at low inlet steam qualities

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 419; p. 112954
• Main Authors: Boden, Stephan, Hampel, Uwe, Pietruske, Heiko, Bieberle, André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Condensation heat transfer; Heat exchangers; Heat flux; Passive safety systems; Two-phase flow; X-ray tomography; Condensation heat transfer; X-ray tomography; Heat exchangers; Two-phase flow; Passive safety systems; Heat flux
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2024.112954

•A detailed examination of flow morphology and heat transfer during steam condensation in a single inclined condenser tube was performed for pressures up to 65 bar and steam qualities at inlet down to 2.8 %.•Test experiments were carried out at five pressure stages up to 65 bar and for different inlet steam qualities.•The flow patterns were investigated using two advanced measurement techniques namely X-ray computed tomography and X-ray radiography.•The wall heat flux distribution and integral condensation rate were measured.•The interrelation between flow morphologies and wall heat flux were investigated. We report on an experimental study of high-pressure (up to 65 bar) steam condensation heat transfer in a slightly inclined tube at the thermal–hydraulic test facility COSMEA. The study is part of an extended experimental program on this topic and focused this time on heat transfer and two-phase flow at low inlet steam qualities (down to 2.8 %). We determined condensation rates respectively total heat transfer, wall heat flux distribution and flow morphology using X-ray imaging and local temperature measurements.