Subatmospheric boiling study of the operation of a horizontal thermosyphon reboiler loop: Instability

Agunlejika, Ezekiel O.; Langston, Paul A.; Azzopardi, Barry J.; Hewakandamby, Buddhika N.

Abstract

Distillation and chemical processing under vacuum is of immense interest to petroleum and chemical industries due to lower energy costs and improved safety. To tap into these benefits, energy efficient reboilers with lower maintenance costs are required. Here, a horizontal thermosyphon reboiler is investigated at subatmospheric pressures and low heat fluxes. This paper presents detailed experimental data obtained using Wire Mesh Sensor in a gas-liquid flow with heat transfer as well as temperatures, pressures and recirculation rates around the loop. Flow regimes which have been previously identified in other systems were detected. The nature of the instability which underpins the mechanisms involved and conditions aiding instability are reported. Churn flow pattern is persistently detected during instability. The nature of the instability and existence of oscillatory churn flow are interconnected

Citation

Agunlejika, E. O., Langston, P. A., Azzopardi, B. J., & Hewakandamby, B. N. (2016). Subatmospheric boiling study of the operation of a horizontal thermosyphon reboiler loop: Instability. Applied Thermal Engineering, 109(A), 739-745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.08.135

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 21, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 22, 2016
• Publication Date: Oct 25, 2016
• Deposit Date: Sep 22, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 22, 2016
• Journal: Applied Thermal Engineering
• Print ISSN: 1359-4311
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-5606
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 109
• Issue: A
• Pages: 739-745
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.08.135
• Keywords: Horizontal thermosyphon reboiler; Geysering instability; Subatmospheric boiling; Start-up; Wire Mesh Sensor; Two-phase heat transfer
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/804838
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135943111631496X
• Contract Date: Sep 22, 2016