Abstract

This article evaluates the numeric and experimental survey of a distiller's condenser for brackish water whose saltiness varies between 5 to 10 g/L. The condenser is a cylindrical tank, in which is vertically arranged and the pieces of granite constituent of porous media. The governing equations that describe the transfers are deduced from a thermal and mass global balance within the condenser. Finite difference explicit method is employed to solve the governing partial differential equations coupled to an iterative calculation. The influence of the equivalent diameter of the granite piece, the thickness and the initial temperature of the porous media, the inlet steam mass flow rate of the condenser on the condensate quantity, and the condensation efficiency were analyzed. The condensate quantity increases with the porous media thickness, the steam mass flow rate and the condensation efficiency decreases with the augmentation of the steam mass flow rate and is especially more elevated than the porous media initial temperature which was weak. The numeric and experimental results are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement.

Key words: Condenser, steam, granite, porous media, thickness, condensation.