Direct Contact Condensation in the Presence of Noncondensables in OC-OTEC Condensers

Abstract

Analyses are presented for the performance of direct contact jet and spray condensers in the presence of noncondensables. A solution procedure is developed which obtains analytically the liquid-side transient temperature profile, including the thermal entrance effect. The approach avoids iteration at the liquid-vapor interface, which usually is required to determine the interface temperature, by locally linearizing the energy and mass transfer relationship at the gas-liquid interface. Comparisons are carried out with some available data and correlations and show good agreement. The analyses are shown to provide a rational basis for correlating the experimental data. Unlike previous correlations, which are basically curve fits to the applicable data, the present analysis shows clearly the effects of noncondensables, flow, and geometric parameters on the condenser performance. Results are presented for conditions typical of open-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OC-OTEC).