The Confined Vortex Between Two Fixed Concentric Cylinders: A Theoretical Study of Vapor Flow in a Surface Condenser

摘要

The vapor flow in a submarine surface condenser was theoretically analyzed for the case where only the exhaust steam from the ships service turbo-generator enters the condenser. The mathematical model of this vapor flow represents a confined vortex flow between two concentric fixed cylinders. To simulate the condenser tube bundle, the inner cylinder was assumed to have a porous wall. The flow equations for this geometry were developed for an incompressible gas in steady flow. Two types of gas extraction were evaluated: uniform extraction over the porous surface and extraction that is variable with distance along the porous cylinder. Because the resulting flow equations could not be solved in closed form, numerical analysis was applied. Vapor flow patterns for uniform versus variable extraction were compared by calculating a specific numerical example. The results of the analysis emphasized the need for experimental data to develop an equation to accurately describe the extraction process. (Author)