Numerical analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer in a power plant condenser.

A quasi-three dimensional computer algorithm is developed to simulate fluid flow and heat transfer in the shell side of a power plant steam surface condenser. The pressure drop balance approach is used to determine the inlet mass flow rate. Both air blanket and inundation effects are taken into account. The porous medium issued to model the tube bank, and the eddy viscosity model is used to calculate the turbulent viscosity. The governing equations are solved in primitive variable form using a semi-implicit consistent formulation in which a segregated correction linked algorithm is employed. Sensitivity studies are carried out for four different correlations of condensation heat transfer coefficient, differing inundation factors as well as different turbulent viscosity models. The numerical predictions of an experimental steam condenser are critically assessed by comparison against available experimental data. The results indicate that solutions obtained by employing the numerical technique developed in this study are in good agreement with experimental data.Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1992 .Z537. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 31-04, page: 1916. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1992