• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.298-308
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• 1999

Experimental study on characteristics of direct contact condensation of steam discharged into a sub-cooled water pool has been performed using five different sizes of horizontal nozzle over a wide range of steam mass fluxes and pool temperatures. Steam condensation phenomena have been observed visually and by taking pictures of steam jets using a high speed video camera. Two different steam jet shapes such as ellipsoidal shape and conical shape were typically observed for a stable steam jet, depending on the steam mass flux and pool temperature. The steam jet expansion ratio and the steam jet length as well as the condensation heat transfer coefficients were determined. The effect of steam mass flux, pool temperature, and nozzle diameter on these parameters were also discussed. Empirical correlations for the steam jet lengths and the condensation heat transfer coefficients as a function of steam mass flux and condensation driving potential were established. The axial and radial temperature distributions in steam jet and in surrounding water were measured. The effect of steam mass flux, pool temperature, and nozzle diameter were also discussed. The condensation regime map, which consists of six regimes such as chugging, transient chugging, condensation oscillation, stable condensation, bubble condensation oscillation, and intermittent oscillation condensation, were established. In addition, the dynamic pressures at the pool wall were measured. The close relation of dynamic pressure and steam condensation mode, which is also dependent on steam mass flux and pool temperature, was found.