Stability of steam-water countercurrent stratified flow

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6692562

Lee, S C

The stability of countercurrent flow of steam and water in inclined rectangular ducts is investigated. Two flow instabilities which limit the normal condensation processes in countercurrent stratified steam-water flow have been identified experimentally: flooding and condensation-induced waterhammer. In order to initiate condensation-induced waterhammer in nearly horizontal or moderately-inclined steam/subcooled-water flow, two conditions, the appearance of a wavy interface and complete condensation of the incoming steam, are necessary. Analyses of these conditions are performed on a basis of flow stability and heat transfer considerations. Flooding data for several inclinations and channel heights are collected. Effects of condensation, inclination angle and channel height on the flooding characteristics are discussed. An envelope theory for the onset of flooding in inclined stratified flow is developed, which agrees well with the experimental data. Some empirical information on basic flow parameters, such as mean film thickness and interfacial friction factor required for this theory are measured. In addition, the previous viewpoints on flooding have been classified and examined against the present result. It turns out that these viewpoints appear not to conflict with the present experimental data in nearly horizontal flow but the flooding phenomena in nearly vertical flow appear to be more complicated than those described by these viewpoints because of the significant effect of the liquid droplet entrainment.

• OSTI ID: 6692562
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
COUNTER CURRENT
FLUID FLOW
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STABILITY
STEAM
TWO-PHASE FLOW
WATER
WATER HAMMER