An experimental study of a three-phase, direct-contact heat exchanger

An experimental pilot scale three-phase, direct-contact heat exchanger was constructed and tested. Experiments were performed using normal pentane as the dispersed phase and water as the continuous phase. The inlet water temp eratures ranged from 75 to 88 degrees C, and the inlet pentane temperatures varied from 23 to 38 degrees C. The volumetric heat transfer coefficient, hold-up and heat flow-rate are functions of pentane mass flow-rate. For hig h pentane/water volumetric flow ratios flooding was reached. Before reachin g flooding conditions, accumulation of liquid pentane at the top of the act ive volume was found. The experimental volumetric heat transfer coefficient values are on average 30% greater than those estimated with the correlatio n previously proposed by Jacobs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.