New model for heat transfer calculation during film condensation inside pipes

•Flow condensation.•Heat transfer coefficient.•Two phase flow.•Experimental data. In this paper a new model is presented for heat transfer calculation during film condensation inside pipes. This new model has been verified by comparison with available experimental data of a total of 22 different fluids, including water, various refrigerants and organic substances, which condense inside horizontal, vertical and inclined tubes. The model is valid for a range of internal diameters ranging from 2 mm to 50 mm, reduced pressure values ranging from 0.0008 to 0.91, Pr values for the liquid portion of the condensate from 1 to 18, values of Reynolds number for the liquid portion between 68 and 84827, and for the portion of the steam between 900 and 594373, steam quality from 0.01 to 0.99 and mass flux rates in the ranges of 3–850 kg/(m2 s). The mean deviation found for the data analyzed for vertical and inclined tubes was 13.0%, while for the horizontal tube data the mean deviation was 11.8%. In all cases, the agreement of the proposed model for horizontal, vertical and inclined tubes is good enough to be considered satisfactory for practical design.