Experimental measurements and theoretical prediction for the transient characteristic of a two-phase two-component direct contact condenser

The transient characteristics of a three-phase direct contact condenser have been investigated experimentally, utilising a short Perspex column with 48 cm active height and 4 cm internal diameter, and theoretically. Two immiscible fluids, namely pentane vapour with varied initial temperature (41.5 °C, 43.5 °C and47.5 °C) and constant temperature (19 °C) tap water were exploited as the dispersed and the continuous phases respectively. A theoretical model to predict the continuous phase outlet temperature has been developed and solved numerically using MATLAB. The time dependent temperature distribution along the direct contact column was measured and the effect of the mass flow rate ratio and the initial dispersed phase temperature was studied. The experimental results showed that the continuous phase temperatures along the direct contact column increase with time. In addition, no significant effect of the dispersed phase initial temperature on the outlet temperature of the continuous phase was observed. This means that latent heat is dominant in such a direct contact process. Good agreement is achieved between the present theoretical model and the experimental data.