Abstract
It is explained using theoretical results for laminar film condensation that the deterioration of heat transfer performance in the case of condensation of binary vapor mixtures is caused by the temperature drop in the vapor boundary layer due to the increase of the concentration of the volatile component at the vapor-liquid interface. As for free convection condensation the agreement between theory and experiment is satisfactory in the case where the condensate film is smooth, while the heat transfer coefficient becomes larger than the theoretical result in the case where drops and/or streaks appear in the film. It is also explained using some examples of experimental results that the heat transferred from a bulk vapor to a cooling surface can be evaluated by simultaneously solving the equations with respect to the heat transfer coefficient for condensation of pure vapors, the mass transfer coefficient in the vapor phase, and the phase equilibrium in the cases where binary vapor mixtures of water, Frons, alcohols and other organic vapors condense in a vertical tube, a plate-fin condenser, a horizontal tube and a horizontal tube bundle. Then, future problems are pointed out.
