The steam-air condensation facility investigates the phenomena of direct contact condensation that occurs when steam comes in direct contact with water creating a violent and complicated exchange of mass and energy. The heat transfer coefficient between the steam and water is calculated, as well as the bubble’s dynamics and transient behavior.
The effects of non-condensable gases, such as air, have on direct contact condensation is also studied in this facility by varying the flow rate of air with respect to the steam flux.
The facility is equipped with thermocouples and uses sophisticated visualization techniques to estimate the bubble size, steam/liquid contact area. Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) is also applied to the facility for high resolution measurements of the temperature.