Steam Jet Condensation in a Pool: From Fundamental Understanding to Engineering Scale Analysis

Abstract

The phenomena of direct contact condensation (DCC) of a steam jet submerged in a water pool occur because of the actuation of steam discharging devices in many industrial processes. There are practically two kinds of technical concerns to consider. The first is the thermal mixing in the water pool, and the other is the thermo-hydraulically induced mechanical loads acting on the structures of relevant systems. The two concerns are inter-related and can be well described only if the local behavior of the condensing steam jets and the resultant turbulent jet in a pool are well understood. In this paper, the DCC-related thermofluid dynamic features are discussed focusing on these two concerns. The fundamental characteristics of condensing steam jets are discussed, including the local behavior of condensing jets and the resultant turbulent jet, both of which importantly affect the macroscopic circulation in a pool. Then, a global analysis of thermal mixing in a pool from the viewpoints of the local hot spot and the thermal stratification are discussed with practical application to engineering design in mind.