Modeling condensation of the outer pipe surface of the Pipe (MA) Simscape model

Hey!

I am working on a project currently, where I would like to evaluate the conndensed water mass at the outer surface of a pipe.

To give you an example: A cold fluid below 0 °C / 32 °F is flowing through a pipe. The pipe is placed into a container with moist air. Assuming that the wall temperature is equal to the temperature of the fluid inside the pipe, water included in moist air should eventually condensate at the outer wall surface.

Hence my question, does anyone know how to model such a behaviour? I know how to model condensation inside the pipe, which is not of interest now, but I am not aware how to model the condensation inside the container at the outer pipe surface. Is this even possible?

Thank you for helping me out in advance!

Answer 1

[praguna manvi]

Hi @Philip,

As I understand, you're trying to model the effect of moist air in contact with a cold pipe surface. This can be achieved using the “Pipe (MA)” Simscape block. By selecting the “Condensation on wall surface” option within this block, you can account for the rate of water vapor condensation on the surface. The block models the flow dynamics of a pipe in a moist air environment.

For more detailed information, please refer to the “Effect of Condensation on Wall Surface” section under the following link: 

https://www.mathworks.com/help/simscape/ref/pipema.html

Hope this helps!

[Philip]

Hi @praguna manvi,

thank you for your response! I am aware of the "Condensation of wall surface" checkbox, but I assume it only takes condensation inside the pipe into account, not outside of the Pipe?

Because I am more interested in the condensing phenomena at the outside surface of the cooled pipe, the inside is not of interest (yet). Thank you!

Best regards

[Yifeng Tang]

I believe what praguna implies is that you have to use a Pipe (MA) to model the volume of the air outside your liquid pipe. The two pipes can be connected via the thermal port, with some thermal mass and conductive heat transfer block attached.