Numerical analysis of direct contact condensation-induced water hammering effect using OpenFOAM in realistic steam pipes

At beet sugar production, vapors from first and second carbonatation contain a significant amount of odor components, NH3 and waste heat, which are normally directly released into the environment. Due to sustainability motivations, obligations regarding odor nuisance and expected stricter regulations regarding NH3 emission limits, Suiker Unie decided to take measures to reduce emission via the carbonatation vapors. During the 2015 beet campaign, pilot scale plant trials have been performed to investigate the effectiveness of indirect contact and direct contact condensation of these vapors. Based on this experimental work a two-stage gas scrubbing concept was designed: in the first stage main goal is condensing the vapors and reuse the heat of condensation to heat up limed juice, while the actual scrubbing takes place in the second scrubber. This two-stage gas scrubbing installation has been built at the Vierverlaten factory and was started up in the 2016 beet campaign. The background, pilot scale trials, concept of design and achieved reductions in odor and NH3 emission at industrial scale are discussed.

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A Physically Based, One-Dimensional Two-Fluid Model for Direct Contact Condensation of Steam Jets Submerged in Subcooled Water

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science ◽

10.1115/1.4029417 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

David Heinze ◽

Thomas Schulenberg ◽

Lars Behnke

Keyword(s):

Direct Contact ◽

Two Phase Flow ◽

Fluid Model ◽

Interfacial Area ◽

Phase Flow ◽

Two Phase ◽

One Dimensional ◽

Two Fluid Model ◽

Contact Condensation ◽

Two Fluid

A simulation model for the direct contact condensation of steam in subcooled water is presented that allows determination of major parameters of the process, such as the jet penetration length. Entrainment of water by the steam jet is modeled based on the Kelvin–Helmholtz and Rayleigh–Taylor instability theories. Primary atomization due to acceleration of interfacial waves and secondary atomization due to aerodynamic forces account for the initial size of entrained droplets. The resulting steam-water two-phase flow is simulated based on a one-dimensional two-fluid model. An interfacial area transport equation is used to track changes of the interfacial area density due to droplet entrainment and steam condensation. Interfacial heat and mass transfer rates during condensation are calculated using the two-resistance model. The resulting two-phase flow equations constitute a system of ordinary differential equations, which is solved by means of the explicit Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg algorithm. The simulation results are in good qualitative agreement with published experimental data over a wide range of pool temperatures and mass flow rates.

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