STEADY STEAM CONDENSATION ON AN EXTENDED SURFACE WITH SUCTION OF CONDENSATE

he condensation of stationary steam on curvilinear fins is investigated. The fins are described by an equation for a spiral with a variable direction of rotation when the capil-lary pressure has a profound effect on the condensate film motion. To obtain optimal fins, it is proposed to extend the well-known condensation surfaces of Gregorig (1954) and Adamek (1981). Mathematical analysis and some numerical calculations are performed for the spe-cial case when the condensate is drawn away from the center of a flute. The properties of these surfaces and the effect of the geometrical parameters of fins on the enhancement of heat transfer are analyzed. The extended surface proposed can be manufactured by tradi-tional methods, and can produce an amount of condensate per unit length of the film surface projection by 62 % greater than that produced by the surface proposed by Adamek (1981). Key words: film condensation, heat transfer enhancement, surface tension. 1