Experimental study on direct contact condensation (DCC) of a stable steam discharging into a quenching tank with sub-cooled water has been performed for five different sizes of horizontal nozzles over a wide range of steam mass flux and pool temperature conditions. Two different steam jet shapes (conical and ellipsoidal) were typically observed, depending on the steam mass flux and the pool temperature. The steam jet expansion ratios, the dimensionless steam jet lengths, and the average heat transfer coefficients were determined and the effects of steam mass flux, pool temperature, and nozzle diameter on these parameters were discussed. Empirical correlations for the dimensionless steam jet length and the average heat transfer coefficient as a function of steam mass flux and condensation driving potential were established. The axial and radial temperature distributions in the steam jet and in the surrounding pool water were measured and the effects of steam mass flux, pool temperature, and nozzle diameter on these parameters were also discussed. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.