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Optimal stationary states in thermalhydraulics: Total reflux condensation
Author(s) -
Venugopalan D.,
Girard R.,
Kirkaldy J. S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450700409
Subject(s) - dissipative system , reflux , condensation , stationary state , degeneracy (biology) , entropy production , thermodynamics , path (computing) , mathematics , phase (matter) , mode (computer interface) , statistical physics , physics , mechanics , computer science , quantum mechanics , biology , medicine , disease , pathology , bioinformatics , programming language , operating system
Reflux condensation in a weakly fluctuating stationary mode can be classified with dissipative. pattern‐forming structures. In those states which possess a single phase region topping the two‐phase region the steady state conservation equations do not uniquely determine the length of the two‐phase column. This degeneracy can be removed in accord with the principle of maximum path probability by optimizing the rate of entropy production. Models of reflux condensers with one and several cooling jackets which possess a maximal state are presented. The model predicts the general features of the experimental data without recourse to empirical correlations.