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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 0-85295-345-3

International Heat Transfer Conference 10
August, 14-18, 1994, Brighton, UK

THE DESIGN OF A TEMA 'X' SHELL CONDENSER BASED ON THE FILM MODEL APPROACH

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC10.5360
pages 7-12

Abstract

Rate based models have been slow to find widespread application in industrial design of process condensers despite better physical reality than the 'equilibrium' based models. This is due to the difficulty in computing the detailed mass transfer processes of diffusion and convection in complex geometries.
A case study is reported which shows the advantages of the rate based film model approach, in particular in the difficult design of condensation of strongly superheated, mixed vapours of immiscible liquids with a temperature cross at reduced pressure, where thermal and pressure drop calculations are coupled. The method, which follows that suggested by Webb et al (1989), produces a very good first guess of the design, thereby avoiding lengthy computation.
Practical considerations arising in tubesheet layout are incorporated, including the provision of vapour access lanes and gas cooling at the vent. The advantages of the method are better designs, tailored to meet process demands.