Abstract
A part-experimental, part-analytical study, in two sections, is conducted of heat transfer and vapour purification in low-pressure distillation plants.
In the first section, a mechanism of heat transfer and a synthesis of nucleate boiling are presented, based upon wet steam ebullition by the flashing of superheated water from micro-cavities in the heating surfaces and the use of simple thermodynamic laws. Values of critical temperature differences between heating surfaces and vapour, and the influences of the various heat transfer parameters are provided. Derived values of bubble diameter, bubble frequency and bubble sources are compared with experimental figures.
In the second section, the causes of steam contamination are analysed and the factors which govern vapour contamination under elutriation are given. The necessity for particle-size stabilization is shown, and selected devices to stabilize and effectively remove particles of contaminants are examined analytically.
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