Heat transfer measurement in a three-phase direct-contact condenser under flooding conditions

The transient temperature distribution and volumetric heat transfer coefficient during the inception of flooding in a three-phase bubble type direct contact condenser have been experimentally investigated. The flooding mechanism and the factors affecting the onset of flooding of the three-phase direct contact column are not considered. A short Perspex column of 70 cm total height and 4 cm internal diameter utilising two immiscible fluids was studied. Pentane vapour with initial temperatures of 40 °C, 43.5 °C and 47.5 °C was the dispersed phase and tap water at a constant temperature (19 °C) was the continuous phase. Only 48 cm of the column was used as the active height and different mass flow rates of both phases were used. The experimental results showed that the instantaneous temperature distribution along the direct contact column tends to be uniform when the direct contact column is working under flooding conditions. Furthermore, the volumetric heat transfer coefficient increases as the dispersed mass flow rate is increased towards the flooding limit and remains constant along the column height. In addition, the dispersed phase mass flow rate that leads to flooding increased with increasing mass flow rate of the continuous phase. The initial temperature of the dispersed phase did not have a considerable effect on the flooding inception limit under the present experimental conditions.