CS-2 Horizontal Shellside Condensation of Multicomponent Mixtures and Mixtures with Noncondensables

J. W. Palen

1976

Methods for calculation of the vapor-phase heat transfer coefficient in shellside condensation of mixtures are compared with all available data from ideal and baffled tube bundles. Two methods are recommended.

1. The Shellside Resistance Proration Method for general use with multicomponent mixtures.
2. The Ritter simplification of the Colburn-Hougen Method as an additional check for condensation of single vapors from noncondensable gases.

Both of these methods produced very good results for the data on hand. However, because of the relatively small amount of data and some predictions on the unsafe side, it is recommended that a safety factor of about 10 percent be included in the design area for critical cases in which the condensing coefficient is the controlling factor. Additional data from large baffled exchangers will be necessary for further improvement. The procedures recommended in this report are for stepwise or local coefficient calculations.