Condensation on Horizontal Tube: Evaluation of Ten Heat Transfer Correlations
,
 
 
 
More details
Hide details
1
Mechanical Engineering Faculty, Gaseous Fuels and Environment Laboratory, University of Sciences and Technology of Oran-Mohamed Boudiaf, El Mnaouer, BP1505, Bir El Djir3100, Oran, Algeria
 
 
Publication date: 2026-03-11
 
 
Acta Mechanica et Automatica 2026;20(1)
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Ten existing correlations were selected to calculate the heat transfer coefficient during condensation on the external surface of a horizontal tube. These models were compared to a dataset of over 1000 experimental measurements. Statistical and graphical analyses were performed to assess their accuracy against experimental data. Results confirm that Nusselt’s correlation remains the reference in this field. Discrepancies of approximately 14% are observed in other models, such as those proposed by Bromley, Sparrow and Gregg, and Sadasivan and Lienhard. In contrast, the remaining correlations significantly overestimate the experimental values. Finally, a new semi empirical correlation is proposed, achieving a mean error of 14.66% and demonstrating reliability comparable to the most robust existing models. The newly proposed model introduces a modified dependence on the Jacob number, offering improved agreement with experimental data across multiple fluid types, especially in transitional and high-heat-flux regimes. This adjustment enhances the general applicability and accuracy of the model, providing more reliable predictions across a broader range of operating conditions.
REFERENCES (61)
1.
Hu X, Yi Q, Kong X, Wang J. A review of research on dropwise condensation heat transfer. Applied Sciences. 2021;11(4):1553.
 
2.
Yin X, Liang G, Wang J, Shen S. Vapor condensation on micropillar structured surface with lattice Boltzmann method. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer. 2022;138:106357.
 
3.
Lee CC, Taştemir İA. Direct heat exchangers in the food industry. In: Thermal Processing of Food Products by Steam and Hot Water [Internet]. Elsevier. 2023; 181‑208.
 
5.
Reddy CCS. Applications and Potential of Process Intensification in Chemical Process Industries. In: Patle DS, Rangaiah GP, éditeurs. Control and Safety Analysis of Intensified Chemical Processes [Internet]. 1re éd. Wiley. 2024; 15‑46.
 
7.
Singh P, Dwivedi P. Enhanced Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Optimized Utilizing a diversity of Baffle Arrangements: A Survey. https://www.journal-dogorangsa....
 
8.
Das SK, Chatterjee D. Equipment for Boiling, Evaporation and Condensation. In: Vapor Liquid Two Phase Flow and Phase Change [Internet]. Cham: Springer International Publishing. 2023; 375‑436. https://link.springer.com/10.1....
 
9.
Hughes MT, Garimella S. Practical design guidelines for heat transfer enhancement of condensers. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2024;236:121623.
 
10.
Wang X, Li W, Zhang L, Wu J, Zhang J, Kukulka DJ, et al. Condensation characteristics of flows in newly developed three-dimensional enhanced heat transfer tubes. Energy. 2024;305:132114.
 
11.
Azzolin M, Bortolin S. Condensation and flow boiling heat transfer of a HFO/HFC binary mixture inside a minichannel. International Journal of Thermal Sciences. 2021;159:106638.
 
12.
Jung D, Chae S, Bae D, Oho S. Condensation heat transfer coefficients of flammable refrigerants. International journal of refrigeration. 2004;27(3):314‑7.
 
13.
White RE. Condensation of refrigerant vapors—apparatus and film coefficients for Freon-12. Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 1948;70(6):689‑93.
 
14.
Davies III WA, Hrnjak P. A correlation for heat transfer coefficient during stratified steam condensation in large flattened tubes with variable inclination and wall temperature. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2020;146:118666.
 
15.
Jaber MH, Webb RL. Enhanced Tubes For Steam Condensers. Experimental Heat Transfer. 1993;6(1):35‑54.
 
16.
Cheng B, Tao WQ. Experimental study of R-152a film condensation on single horizontal smooth tube and enhanced tubes; 1994. https://asmedigitalcollection.....
 
17.
Baki T, Sahel D. Pool boiling on horizontal tube, evaluation of ten correlations. Archive of Mechanical Engineering. 2023;481‑95.
 
18.
Nusselt, W. Nusselt, W. De oberflachenkondensation des waserdampfes. Z. VDI. 44 Frankfurt. 1916; 60: 541-546, 569-575.
 
19.
Bromley LA. Effect of Heat Capacity of Condensate. Ind Eng Chem. Déc. 1952;44(12):2966‑9.
 
20.
Rohsenow WM. Heat transfer and temperature distribution in laminar-film condensation. Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 1956;78(8):1645‑7.
 
21.
Sparrow EM, Gregg JL. Laminar condensation heat transfer on a horizontal cylinder. Journal of Heat Transfer. 1959;81(4):291‑5.
 
22.
Fujii T. Filmwise condensation on a surfsce with uniform heat flux and body force convection. 九州大学生産科学研究所報告.
 
23.
1973;(58):317‑24.
 
24.
Sadasivan P, Lienhard JH. Sensible heat correction in laminar film boiling and condensation. Journal of Heat Transfer (Transactions of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), Series C);(United States) [Internet]. 1987];109(2).
 
26.
Kumar R, Varma HK, Mohanty B, Agrawal KN. Augmentation of outside tube heat transfer coefficient during condensation of steam over horizontal copper tubes. International communications in heat and mass transfer. 1998;25(1):81‑91.
 
27.
Schnabel G, Palen JW. Wärmeübergang an senkrechten berieselten Flächen. VDI-Wärmeatlas. S Md. 1998;1‑8.
 
28.
Hashimoto H, Kaminaga F. Heat transfer characteristics in a condenser of closed two-phase thermosyphon: Effect of entrainment on heat transfer deterioration. Heat Transfer-Asian Research: Co-sponsored by the Society of Chemical Engineers of Japan and the Heat Transfer Division of ASME. 2002;31(3):212‑25.
 
29.
Bogomolov AR, Petrik PT, Azikhanov SS. A study of heat transfer during steam condensation on a horizontal tube placed in granular material made of particles with different wettability of surface. Therm Eng. 2009;56(7):560‑5.
 
30.
Liu Y, Cheng Y, Du B, Lan Z, Wen R, Ma X. Low-pressure steam dropwise condensation on durable PFA-coated horizontal tube: Droplet dynamics in active region. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2023;214:124423.
 
31.
Garrett T. Heat-transfer coefficients for film condensation of steam on an inclined cylinder [Internet] [PhD Thesis]. University of British Columbia; 1960. https://open.library.ubc.ca/so....
 
32.
Depew CA, Reisbig RL. Vapor Condensation on a Horizontal Tube Using Teflon to Promote Dropwise Condensation. Ind Eng Chem Proc Des Dev. 1964;3(4):365‑9.
 
33.
Kleiner T, Rehfeldt S, Klein H. CFD model and simulation of pure substance condensation on horizontal tubes using the volume of fluid method. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2019;138:420‑31.
 
34.
Reif A, Büchner A, Rehfeldt S, Klein H. Outer heat transfer coefficient for condensation of pure components on single horizontal low-finned tubes. Heat Mass Transfer. 2019;55(1):3‑16.
 
35.
Gebauer T, Al-Badri AR, Gotterbarm A, El Hajal J, Leipertz A, Fröba AP. Condensation heat transfer on single horizontal smooth and finned tubes and tube bundles for R134a and propane. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2013;56(1‑2):516‑24.
 
36.
Ji WT, Chong GH, Zhao CY, Zhang H, Tao WQ. Condensation heat transfer of R134a, R1234ze (E) and R290 on horizontal plain and enhanced titanium tubes. International Journal of Refrigeration. 2018;93:259‑68.
 
37.
Losher T, Schlecker S, Klein H, Rehfeldt S. Experimental investigation of the impact of non-condensing gas on the condensation of n-propanol on a low-finned tube. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2024;244:122775.
 
38.
Kühl JV, Jander JH, Piszko M, Freitag D, Dietl J, El-Hajal J, et al. Influence of surface structure and tube material on the condensation heat transfer coefficient of propane on horizontal single tubes and in tube bundles. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2024;224:125319.
 
39.
Kühl JV, Palm FG, Dietl J, El-Hajal J, Gotterbarm A, Rausch MH, et al. Influence of surface structure and tube material on the condensation heat transfer coefficient of n-butane on horizontal single tubes and in tube bundles. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2024;233:125973.
 
40.
Ravi Kumar, H. K. Varma, Bikash Moh. Condensation of R-134a Vapor over Single Horizontal Circular Integral-Fin Tubes with Trapezoidal Fins. Heat Transfer Engineering. 2000;21(2):29‑39.
 
41.
Kim NH. Condensation of R-134a on Horizontal Enhanced Tubes Having Three-Dimensional Roughness. Int J Air-Cond Ref. 2016;24(02):1650013.
 
42.
Sukhatme SP, Jagadish BS, Prabhakaran P. Film condensation of R-11 vapor on single horizontal enhanced condenser tubes; 1990. https://asmedigitalcollection.....
 
43.
Cheung K, Ohadi MM, Dessiatoun SV. EHD-assisted external condensation of R-134a on smooth horizontal and vertical tubes. International journal of heat and mass transfer. 1999;42(10):1747‑55.
 
44.
Domingo N, Michel JW. Ammonia condensation on smooth and fluted aluminum tubes; 1982. https://asmedigitalcollection.....
 
45.
Ji WT, Li ZY, Qu ZG, Guo JF, Zhang DC, He YL, et al. Film condensing heat transfer of R134a on single horizontal tube coated with open cell copper foam. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2015;76:335‑43.
 
46.
Pa RP, Kumarb R, Guptac A, Md RB. Experimental investigation for the condensation heat transfer of r-245fa over horizontal plain tube. International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology. 2011;2(2):245‑9.
 
47.
Zhang DC, Ji WT, Tao WQ. Condensation heat transfer of HFC134a on horizontal low thermal conductivity tubes. International communications in heat and mass transfer. 2007;34(8):917‑23.
 
48.
Zhang D, Zhao A, Du J, Tian S, Fan X. Experimental investigations on condensation heat transfer outside enhanced tubes—Effect of tube types. In: 2011 International Conference on Materials for Renewable Energy & Environment [Internet]. IEEE. 2011;1338‑42. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/ab....
 
49.
Gstoehl D, Thome JR. Film condensation of R-134a on tube arrays with plain and enhanced surfaces: Part I—experimental heat transfer coefficients; 2006. https://asmedigitalcollection.....
 
50.
Zhao CY, Ji WT, Jin PH, Zhong YJ, Tao WQ. The influence of surface structure and thermal conductivity of the tube on the condensation heat transfer of R134a and R404A over single horizontal enhanced tubes. Applied Thermal Engineering. 2017;125:1114‑22.
 
51.
Ji WT, Zhao CY, Zhang DC, Li ZY, He YL, Tao WQ. Condensation of R134a outside single horizontal titanium, cupronickel (B10 and B30), stainless steel and copper tubes. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2014;77:194‑201.
 
52.
Han KI, Park JU. A Study on the Condensation Performance for the Horizontal Heat Transfer Tubes with Various Fin Attached. Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education. 1992;4(1):47‑61.
 
53.
Goto M, Hotta H, Tezuka S. Film condensation of refrigerant vapours on a horizontal tube. International Journal of Refrigeration. 1980;3(3):161‑6.
 
54.
Liu P, Kandasamy R, Ho JY, Wong TN. An experimental investigation on the effects of air on filmwise condensation of PF-5060 dielectric fluid on plain and finned tube bundles. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2020;162:120349.
 
55.
Mostafa I, Jin PH, Ji WT, Tao WQ. An experimental study of the inundation effect on filmwise condensation heat transfer over horizontal smooth and enhanced tubes. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2023;206:123950.
 
56.
Williams PE, Sauer Jr HJ. Condensation of refrigerant-oil mixtures on horizontal tubes. International Journal of refrigeration. 1981;4(4):209‑22.
 
57.
Xie T, Eckels SJ. An Investigation of Condensation Heat Transfer Performance of HFC-134a on Single Enhanced Tubes (RP-984). HVAC&R Research. 2003;9(1):3‑18.
 
58.
Joo JK, Cho SJ, Jung DS, Kim CB. Condensation heat transfer coefficients of CFC-11 and its alternative refrigerants. Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B. 1997;21(6):830‑40.
 
59.
Zhang D, Liu Q, Tao W, He Y. Condensation heat transfer of R22 outside horizontal doubly-enhanced tubes. CIESC Journal. 2005;56(10):1865.
 
60.
Ji WT, Numata M, He YL, Tao WQ. Nucleate pool boiling and filmwise condensation heat transfer of R134a on the same horizontal tubes. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 2015;86:744‑54.
 
61.
Gogonin II, Dorokhov AR. Experimental investigation of heat transfer with the condensation of the moving vapor of Freon-21 on horizontal cylinders. J Appl Mech Tech Phys. 1977;17(2):252‑7.
 
eISSN:2300-5319
ISSN:1898-4088
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top