Colombo, M and Fairweather, M (2016) Predicting Two-Phase and Subcooled Boiling Flows with a Two-Fluid CFD Boiling Model Combined with a Population Balance Approach. In: Proceedings of the 11th International ERCOFTAC Symposium on Engineering Turbulence Modelling and Measurements – ETMM11. 11th International ERCOFTAC Symposium on Engineering Turbulence Modelling and Measurements – ETMM11, 21-23 Sep 2016, Sicily, Italy.
Abstract
In recent years, computational fluid dynamics has emerged as one method that is able to improve our ability to predict subcooled and saturated boiling flows. In the nuclear field, accurate modelling of the critical heat flux (CHF), which is perhaps the main threat to the integrity of reactor fuel rods, has stimulated much interest. In predicting the CHF, one short-term objective is to develop models that can be applied with confidence to both bubbly and boiling flows. In this paper, the accuracy of an Eulerian-Eulerian averaged two-fluid model implemented in the STAR-CCM+ code is evaluated against air-water bubbly and subcooled boiling flow data. The model includes a Reynolds stress turbulence model and a population balance-based approach with newly implemented source terms for bubble break-up and coalescence. The boiling model is based on the heat flux partitioning approach and accommodates the heat flux due to single-phase convection, quenching and evaporation. Despite achieving a satisfactory accuracy for air-water bubbly flows, predictions of subcooled boiling are less accurate in areas such as the average bubble diameter and the velocity profile close to the wall. However, the accuracy obtained for void fraction, turbulence levels and temperature encourages future efforts to improve the model described. Further developments to increase accuracy and general applicability, in particular in relation to the boiling and population balance models, are identified.
Metadata
Item Type: | Proceedings Paper |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an author produced version of a paper published in Proceedings of the 11th International ERCOFTAC Symposium on Engineering Turbulence Modelling and Measurements – ETMM11. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number EPSRC MECM_P42455 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 02 Feb 2017 16:26 |
Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2018 06:32 |
Status: | Published |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:111309 |