Heat Transfer and Condensation Dynamics in Noncondensable Gas Systems

The condensation of vapour in the presence of non-condensable gases introduces coupled mass- and heat-transfer phenomena that are central to many industrial and safety-critical applications. The accumulation of gases such as air or carbon dioxide at the vapour–liquid interface creates a diffusive barrier that diminishes the local driving force for phase change and alters the distribution of heat flux along condensing surfaces. In practice, this interplay affects the design and performance of power-plant condensers, heat exchangers in chemical processes, and emergency cooling systems in nuclear reactors. Key parameters include the concentration boundary layer thickness, film resistance due to the liquid condensate, surface subcooling and flow regime. Recent advances in computational modelling, empirical correlation development and targeted experiments have enhanced predictive capability across scales, enabling optimisation of geometry, operating conditions and surface enhancements for improved thermal efficiency and safety margins.

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Heat Transfer and Condensation Dynamics in Noncondensable Gas Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in heat transfer and condensation dynamics in noncondensable gas systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Non-condensable gas: A gas that remains in the vapour phase under operating conditions, impeding condensation by forming a diffusive boundary layer at the interface.

Heat transfer coefficient: The ratio of heat flux to the temperature difference between a solid surface and an adjacent fluid, indicating convective performance.

Subcooling: The extent to which the surface or fluid temperature falls below the saturation temperature of the vapour, providing thermodynamic driving force for condensation.

Condensate film resistance: The thermal resistance presented by the liquid layer that forms on a surface during condensation, which reduces overall heat transfer efficiency.

References

1. Development of a general correlation for free convection vapor condensation over a horizontal tube in the presence of a noncondensable gas. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer (2021).
2. Enhancement of Condensation Heat Transfer Rate of the Air-Steam Mixture on a Passive Condenser System Using Annular Fins. Energies (2017).
3. Experimental Study on the Condensation of Steam With Air Out of the Vertical Tube Bundles. Frontiers in Energy Research (2018).