On the annular‐to‐wavy flow pattern transition during condensation inside horizontal tubes

The annular to wavy and intermittent flow pattern transition during condensation inside horizontal tubes was investigated. Eight data sets corresponding to different tube diameters and different test fluids were used to test the predictions of several diabatic and adiabatic correlations. Deficiencies were found in these correlations which prevented consistent agreement with the data base. An improved correlation is proposed and shown to have a good deal of generality and accuracy in predicting this transition. On a etudie le passage du regime d'ecoulement annulaire au regime ondulatoire et intermittent, lors de la condensation a l'interieur des tubes horizontaux. On a employe huit series de donnees, qui correspondaient a differents diametres de tubes et divers fluides d'essai, pour verifier les previsions de diverses correlations diabatiques et adiabatiques. On a trouve des deficiences dans ces correlations, de sorte que l'on n'a pu obtenir un accord satisfaisant pour l'ensemble de ces donnees; on propose une meilleure correlation dont on montre qu'elle possede beaucoup de generalite et d'exactitude pour la prediction de cette transition.