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Local Measurement in Annular Flows Using a Two-Sensor Droplet-Capable Conductivity Probe

Journal Article · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:23042882
; ;  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. School of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)
  2. Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States)
  3. Nuclear Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (United States)
  4. Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation, West Mifflin, PA (United States)
Two-sensor electrical conductivity probes have been widely used for detailed local measurement in two-phase flow systems. However application of conductivity probes in liquid-dispersed flows has been limited. In the churn-turbulent to annular transition and annular flow regimes, the liquid phase exists as a continuous phase in the film and ligaments, and as a dispersed phase in the droplets. The conventional design of a conductivity probe is not valid because it cannot distinguish the dispersed liquid phase from the gas phase. In this paper, the Two-Sensor Droplet-Capable Conductivity Probe (DCCP-2) is designed in order to extend measurement capability to liquid-dispersed flows. The liquid phase is classified into droplets and ligaments. The interface velocity, volume fraction, interfacial area concentration, as well as the chord length of liquid droplets and ligaments, can be calculated from the raw signal. The radial distribution of these parameters and the probability distribution of chord length and velocity are obtained for downwards flow in a vertical pipe. The results show that although the average volume fraction of droplets is only on the order of 1%, droplets contribute to around 20%-30% to the entrained liquid phase in the gas core, the remainder as ligaments. The interfacial area concentration from droplets and ligaments are in the order of 300 m{sup -1}. (authors)
OSTI ID:
23042882
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 115; ISSN 0003-018X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English