Chapter 14

Boiling Liquids
14_001 An experimental evaporator shell consists of a horizontal cylinder approximately 1 ft in length by 8 in. in
diameter, provided with an overhead water-cooled total condenser and a submerged horizontal chromiumplated copper tube that is heated by steam condensing on the inside surface. The submerged tube is 12.1 in.
long and has an o.d. of 0.840 in. and a wall thickness of 0.109 in. Thermocouples are installed at points 4 in.
from each end of the tube and 0.025 in. below the outer surface.
In a typical run, the heating surface is covered with water to a depth of 1.25 in., steam is passed through a
vapor-liquid separator, thence through a glass-wool filter, and is throttled to the desired condensing pressure
before it enters the heating tube. Cooling water is supplied to the condenser.
When steady-state conditions have been obtained, the following readings are taken with the water boiling at
212 F:

Run number
Steam gauge pressure, lb/sq in
Average temperature of thermocouples, deg F
Temperature of inlet condenser water, deg C
Temperature of outlet condenser water, deg C
Condenser-water rate, lb/hr

1
99
329
16.2
54.5
322

2
13
234
17.2
58.5
305

3
43
258.5
12.8
57
1132

From these data, compute the over-all coefficient and the two surface coefficients.
Solution:
Run 1, steam p = 99 psig = 113.7 psia = 337.12 F
A = (0.840)(12.1)/144 = 0.22175 sq ft
q = (322)(1.0)(54.5 - 16.2))(1.8) = 22,199
q/A = 22,199 / 0.22175 = 100,108
t = 329-212 = 117 F
to = 337.12 - 212 = 125.12 F
ho = 100,108 / 117 = 856
Uo = 100,108 / 125.12 = 800
Do = 0.840 in, Di = 0.840 - 2(0.109) = 0.622 in

1
1 Do
=
+
U o h o D i hi
1
1
0.840
=
+
800 856 (0.622)hi
hi = 16,510
Run 2, steam p = 13 psig = 27.7 psia = 245.62 F
A = (0.840)(12.1)/144 = 0.22175 sq ft
q = (305)(1.0)(58.5 - 17.2))(1.8) = 22,674
q/A = 22,674 / 0.22175 = 102,250
t = 234-212 = 22 F
to = 245.62- 212 = 33.62 F
ho = 102,250 / 22 = 4,648
Uo = 102,250 / 33.62 = 3,042
Do = 0.840 in, Di = 0.840 - 2(0.109) = 0.622 in

Page 1 of 5

4
78
317
18
58.5
317

Chapter 14
Boiling Liquids
1
1 Do
=
+
U o h o D i hi
1
1
0.840
=
+
3042 4648 (0.622 )hi
hi = 11,888
Run 3, steam p = 43 psig = 57.7 psia = 290.15 F
A = (0.840)(12.1)/144 = 0.22175 sq ft
q = (1132)(1.0)(57 - 12.8))(1.8) = 90,062
q/A = 90,062 / 0.22175 = 406,142
t = 258.5-212 = 46.5 F
to = 290.15- 212 = 78.15 F
ho = 406,142 / 46.5 = 8,734
Uo = 406,142 / 78.15 = 5,197
Do = 0.840 in, Di = 0.840 - 2(0.109) = 0.622 in
1
1 Do
=
+
U o h o D i hi
1
1
0.840
=
+
5197 8734 (0.622 )hi
hi = 17,335
Run 4, steam p = 78 psig = 92.7 psia = 322.27 F
A = (0.840)(12.1)/144 = 0.22175 sq ft
q = (317)(1.0)(58.5 - 18))(1.8) = 23,109
q/A = 23,109 / 0.22175 = 104,212
t = 317-212 = 105 F
to = 322.27- 212 = 115.27 F
ho = 23,109 / 105 = 993
Uo = 23,109 / 115.27 = 904
Do = 0.840 in, Di = 0.840 - 2(0.109) = 0.622 in
1
1 Do
=
+
U o h o D i hi
1
0.840
+
993 (0.622)hi
hi = 13,622
904 =

14_002. It is desired to boil methanol at 151 F in a natural-convection evaporator heated by steam condensing inside
horizontal submerged tubes. In view of the data below, what should be the condensing temperature of the
steam?
tsv, deg F 221
U
1450

226
1510

236
1540

Solution:
tw = condensing temperature of the steam

Page 2 of 5

246 256 266

1500 1420 1300

272 286
1200 1040

296
950

Chapter 14
Boiling Liquids
U
1450
1510
1540
1500
1420
1300
1200
1040
950

tw - tsv
70
75
85
95
105
115
121
135
145

q/A
101500
113250
130900
142500
149100
149500
145200
140400
137750

Maximum flux for nucleate boiling is 149,500 Btu/hr

U = 1300, to = 115 F
tc = 151F + 115 F = 266 F condensing steam temperature
14_003. Estimate the pressure drop for isothermal co-current flow of water and air in a horizontal standard 1-inch iron
pipe 10 ft long. The water rate will be 1200 lb/hr and the air rate 30 lb/hr. The temperature is 70 F, and the
discharge pressure is 1 atm.
Repeat for co-current upflow of the same mixture.
Solution:
ID = 1.049 in = 0.08742 ft
at 70 F
L = 2.36 lb/(hr)(ft)
G = 0.0441 lb/(hr)(ft)
4w L
4(1200)
=
= 7406 > 2000
DL (0.08742)(2.36 )
4w G
4(30)
=
= 9908 > 2000
DG (0.08742)(0.0441)
Table 14-9, Flow Type = t-t
Eq. 14-10
L =

(p L )TP
(p L )L

Eq. 14-11.

X=

a.

(p L )L
(p L )G
Horizontal

For liquid.
Equation 6-9b
f G 2 mL
p1 p 2 = m
2gc rh
f G2 m
p
= m
2gc rh
L L
at 70 F
vm = 0.01606 cu ft/lb
NRe = 7,406

Page 3 of 5

Chapter 14
Boiling Liquids
fm = 0.009

G=

4w L

4(1200)

= 199,926
D
(0.08742)2
rh = D/ 4= 0.08742 / 4 = 0.02186 ft
2

(0.009)(199926)2 (0.01606) = 0.3169

p
=
2 4.17 10 8 (0.02186)
L L
For Gas, v1=v2

p1 p 2 =

fm G 2 m L
2gc rh

RT (53.34 )(70 + 460)

=
(14.696)(144)
p
vm = 13.36 cu ft/lb
m =

= 1.0
4w
4(30)
G = L2 =
= 4998
D
(0.08742)2
f G2 m
p
= m
2gc rh
L G
fm = 0.0085

(0.009)(4998)2 (13.36) = 0.1556

p
=
L G 2 4.17 10 8 (0.02186)
X=

(p
(p

L )L
=
L )G

0.3169
= 1.43
0.1556

Figure 14-23
L =

(p

(p L )TP
(p L )L
L )TP

= 3.5

= 3.5
0.3169
(p L )TP = 3.882
p = 3.882 x 10 = 38.82 lb/sq ft
b.

Up-flow

f G 2 m g z 2 z1
p
+
= m
2gc rh
g c mL
L L
L = z2 - z1

(1)
p
1
= 0.3169 +
L
1
(
0.01606
)
L

p
= 62.584
L L

X=

(p
(p

L )L
=
L )G

Figure 14-23

Page 4 of 5

62.584
= 20
0.1556

Chapter 14
Boiling Liquids

L =

(p

(p L )TP
= 1.5
(p L )L
L )TP = 140.8

p = 140.8 x 10 = 1408 lb/sq ft

14_004 The outer surface of a long horizontal tube with an o.d. of 0.5 inch is maintained at a constant temperature of
1000 F by electrical heat input. The tube is immersed in boiling water at 212 F. What is the average heat flux
from the tube to the water? If the tube is 16 BWG and has a thermal conductivity of 15 Btu/(hr)(sq ft)(deg F
per ft), what is the temperature inside the tube? Use = 0.7.
Solution:
For 16 BWG tube, k = 15 Btu/(hr)(sq ft)(deg F per ft)
Use = 0.7
1

gk 3 v ( L v ) 4
hco = 0.62 v

D v t

For water at 212 F

L = 1/ 0.01672 = 59.8086 lb/cu ft
v = 1/ 26.80 = 0.0373 lb/cu ft
D = 0.04167 ft
t = 1000 F - 212 F = 788 F
= 970.3 Btu/lb
kv = 0.0136 Btu/(hr)(sq ft)(deg F per ft)
v = 0.012 x 2.42 = 0.02904 lb/hr-ft
g = 4.17 x 10

hco

4.17 10 8 (0.136 )3 (970.3)(0.0373)(59.8086 0.0373)

= 0.62

(0.04167)(0.02904)(788)

h 3
h = hc + hr = hco co + hr
h

hr = (4 + n) avg Tavg 3

hr = (4 ) 0.1713 10 8 (0.7 )(1066)3 = 5.81

1

24.35 3
h = (24.35 )
+ 5.81
h
h = 28.8
q/A = ht = (28.8)(1000-212) = 22,695 Btu/hr-sq ft

For 16 BWG, 1/2 in o.d.

xw = 0.065 in = 0.005417 ft
ID = 0.370 in = 0.030833 ft
q = kt2 / xw
22,695 = (15)(ti - 1000) / (0.005417)
ti = 1008 F
- end -

Page 5 of 5

= 24.35