Drift-flux model in a sub-channel of rod bundle geometry

Abstract

In view of the practical interest of the drift-flux model for two-phase flow analysis, the distribution parameter and drift velocity constitutive equations have been obtained for subcooled boiling flow in a sub-channel of rod bundle geometry. The constitutive equation of the distribution parameter for subcooled boiling flow in a sub-channel is obtained from the bubble-layer thickness model. In this derivation an existing constitutive equation for subcooled boiling flow in a round pipe is modified by taking account of the difference in the flow channel geometry between the sub-channel and round pipe. The constitutive equation of the drift velocity is proposed based on an existing correlation and considering the rod wall and sub-channel geometry effects. The prediction accuracy of the newly developed correlations has been checked against experimental data in a 3 × 3 rod bundle sub-channel, obtaining better predicting errors than the existing correlations most used in literature. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.