Turbulent film condensation of high pressure steam in a vertical tube

An experimental study is performed to investigate the high pressure steam c ondensation heat transfer in a large diameter condenser tube which is adapt ed for passive systems in Advanced Nuclear Power Plants. Experiments are co nducted with high pressure steam in a single vertical tube with an inner di ameter of 46 mm at a maximum pressure of 7.5 MPa, The film condensation hea t transfer coefficients in the vertical tube are calculated by the differen ce of measured tube wall temperatures, and the two-phase pressure drops in the condenser tube are also measured. A new turbulent annular film condensa tion model is developed on the basis of the similarity of pipe flow and ann ular film flow. The present model gives better results than those of the Sh ah model in comparison with the experimental data. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.