Condensation Film at High Pressure in Aligned Tube Bundles

Abstract

This work addresses the study of water vapor condensation in a high-pressure dome through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Vapor condensation is a widely utilized phenomenon in thermal cycles, but it also finds applications in other industrial contexts, such as pressure control. In this study, a toroidal arrangement of aligned tubes is analyzed. Placed within a saturated vapor environment, subcooled water flows inside the tubes, enabling control of the mass flow rate and, consequently, pressure regulation within the dome. The condensation capacity is evaluated under different flow conditions, with particular attention to liquid film formation and droplet detachment. The latter phenomenon, due to the vertical arrangement of the tubes, has a significant influence on energy transfer to the lower tubes. The simulations employed the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method together with a mass transfer model based on the work of Lee et al. Mesh convergence studies and a sensitivity analyses of turbulence models were carried out. Finally, the ability of the device to control pressure through this condensation mechanism was assessed.