Analysis of vapor condensation in porous media

Abstract

The present work analyzes the problem of vapor condensation in porous media. Specific consideration is given to a transient‐state one‐dimensional formulation, representing a porous slab exposed to the saturated vapor from one side and the cold plate on the other side. When condensation occurs, three zones will exist inside the porous medium. Near the cold plate, a liquid zone is expected. Adjacent to this zone and extending into the medium will be a two‐phase zone which is dominated by capillary and vapor phase transport. Ahead of this zone the medium will remain saturated with vapor phase. Predictions from the three‐zone model used in this study have been compared with the two‐zone model which neglects the effect of surface tension forces. The results show that the two‐zone model can only predict the condensation phenomena in low permeability media. Capillary pressure or surface tension effects become significant and cannot be neglected during the condensation of vapor in high permeability media.