Single-sided steam condensing inside a rectangular horizontal channel

Heat transfer rates for steam condensation were experimentally studied in a horizontal channel with: bottom-sided cooling only, relatively small vertical channel height of 3.137 mm, width of 18.898 mm, and cooled length of 3 m. Experiments were performed at low mass flux (20–50 kg/m2 s) and at pressures of 170–620 kPa applicable to large drum-type heat exchangers. Results for this rather unique combination of parameters were compared to: (1) trends from other better established condensing systems, and (2) the few available condensing correlations that cover most of the parameter ranges of these experiments. Modifications are presented which better predict the data.