DIRECT-CONTACT CONDENSATION ON LIQUID DROPLETS DURING RAPID DEPRESSURIZATION. PART 1: QUASI-STEADY SOLUTION.

In this paper, direct-contact condensation on liquid droplets during a rapid depressurization, which yields a sudden decrease in the saturation temperature, is investigated. The decrease in the saturation temperature may stem either from direct-contact condensation, which is referred to as condensation-induced depressurization, or from an accidental leakage from the system, which is referred to as system depressurization. The governing equations of the direct-contact condensation on liquid droplets injected into a steam chamber are obtained based upon some simplifying assumptions. Because of the induced nature of the depressurization, the condensation rates and the depressurization rates form a coupled set of equations that must be solved simultaneously. A forward-marching finite-difference scheme is used to obtain the simultaneous solution. Only sample results for the quasi-steady solution are reported within this paper. The limitations and the errors associated with such a solution are also discussed.