CS-18-TR Shellside Vacuum Condensation in Vertical Downflow

S. N. Ritchey and A. B. Worstell

2015, rev 05/2016

Current shellside condensation methods are based on data mostly measured above atmospheric pressure. The accuracy of these methods in vacuum conditions requires validation. To evaluate and improve our methods, HTRI is collecting data in the Low Pressure Condensation Unit (LPCU) for shellside condensation of pure component fluids at vacuum pressures ranging from 0.3 to 97 kPa (2 to 724 Torr). Xist and an in-house Excel VBA code were used to model shakedown data of n-heptane; both models overpredicted the overall heat transfer coefficient by an average of 65.6% and 34.8%, respectively. This report presents a description of the unit and test section, as well as an overview of the process conditions and shakedown data.