Numerical predictions of flow boiling characteristics: Current status, model setup and CFD modeling for different non-uniform heating profiles

M. A. Nemitallah*, M. A. Habib, R. Ben Mansour, M. El Nakla

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

A detailed analysis of two-phase flow boiling characteristics inside high pressure systems is presented focusing on non-uniform axial heating profiles. For this purpose, a detailed numerical model has been developed after presenting the current status of the use of CFD techniques in flow boiling predictions. User defined functions written in C++ were compiled and hooked to the software in order to account for mass interaction between phases using the Eulerian multiphase flow model. The modeled domain is a 2 m long stainless steel pipe with inside and outside diameters of 15.4 mm, 25.4 mm, respectively. The base imposed uniform heat flux was 345.6 kW/m2, for mass flow rate of water of 0.161 kg/s and at a temperature of 200 °C. The model was validated against range of experimental data and the results are very promising for the use of CFD in flow boiling characterization. Effects of increasing uniform heat flux were considered for different increments of 30, 50 and 75% as reference to the basic applied heat flux. The influences of heat flux profile in the axial direction were investigated while maintaining the same total power. Different heat flux profiles of linearly increasing, linearly decreasing, sine, and cosine shapes were considered.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)451-460
Number of pages10
JournalApplied Thermal Engineering
Volume75
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Jan 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Axial heating
  • CFD modeling
  • Circumferential heating
  • Critical heat flux
  • Non-uniform heat flux
  • Two phase flow

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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