Steady-State Behavior of a Two-Phase Natural Circulation Loop With Thermodynamic Nonequilibrium

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipankar N. Basu ◽  
Souvik Bhattacharyya ◽  
P. K. Das
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Circulation Loop ◽  
Control Parameters ◽  
Subcooled Boiling ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
State Behavior ◽  
Natural Circulation Loop ◽  
Steady State Behavior

A model to predict the steady-state behavior of a rectangular two-phase natural circulation loop has been proposed. The analysis employs a one-dimensional two-fluid model to identify various system parameters, with particular emphasis on the subcooled boiling region. The onset of two-phase region and point of net vapor generation and associated liquid temperatures and vapor qualities have been estimated using a few widely recognized correlations. Predicted results demonstrate that the consideration of subcooled boiling may have significant effect on system behavior, particularly around the transition regions. The interaction of saturated bubbles and subcooled liquid and associated change in heat transfer and frictional forces has been discussed in detail. Fluid stream has been observed to have different combinations of flow stream conditions at boiler exit and condenser inlet. Five probable combinations have been identified and a generalized working-regime map has been proposed on Nsub−NZu plane. Attempts have been made to identify the influence of various control parameters. A favorable sink condition (higher coolant flow rate or lower coolant entry temperature) has been found to be of particular importance to attain a wider operating range of wall heat flux and better heat transfer characteristics. A design map has been proposed to identify favorable operating condition in terms of control parameters to ensure complete condensation.

Investigation of Steady-State Characteristics of Natural Circulation Loop

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Huang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Circulation Loop ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Natural Circulation Loop ◽  
Flow Case

Natural circulation is one of the most important mechanisms of passive safety systems in the advanced NPP design. By using RELAP5, steady-state behaviors of a typical natural circulation loop (NCL) were investigated. The Influences of various system parameters, such as pressure, cooling heat transfer area and loop height were studied. The results show that the heat transfer power of the NCL (i.e. the heat transferred from the heater to the tank by NCL) is linear with respect to the temperatures of boundary heat source and sink, excluding the phase transition region. The NCL operation mode (i.e. two-phase flow or one-phase flow) is mainly determined by the loop pressure. It is found that with the decrease of the pressure, the two-phase flow operation range is widened. The heat transfer power of two-phase flow case is always higher, and varies more substantially with pressure, than that of one-phase flow case under the same boundary temperatures. However, flow instability may occur for two-phase flow case. By increasing the area of heat transfer surface between loop cooling section and tank, the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of loop heating section as well as the heat transfer power of the NCL will increase. But the influence is insignificant when the tank temperature is relatively high. It is also observed that for both one-phase flow and two-phase flow, the change of loop height has little effect upon the heat transfer power of the NCL under the given boundary condition in this study.

Steady-State Performance of a Rectangular Natural Circulation Loop With Differentially Heated Parallel Channels

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shubhankar Chakraborty ◽  
Prasanta Kr. Das
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Energy Transport ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Circulation Loop ◽  
Circulation Rate ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
State Behavior ◽  
Natural Circulation Loop

Natural circulation loop (NCL) transfers thermal energy without using any external power. As with phase change, one can expect a higher rate of heat transfer and a greater change in density, NCL with a phase change of the circulating fluid is a more effective energy transfer device. Though in many of the practical NCLs there are multiple heating risers, the characteristics of NCLs with parallel boiling risers have not been investigated in detail. In the present work, the steady-state behavior of a two-phase NCL with two parallel boiling risers for water as the working fluid has been investigated. Emphasis has been given to the performance of the loop when the risers are differentially heated. Effect of different parameters on the loop circulation rate and energy transport for both equally and differentially heated conditions has been thoroughly examined and compared to the performance of a single-riser loop under equivalent working condition.

Effect of Loop Tilting on the Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Two-Phase CO2 Based Natural Circulation Loop: An Experimental Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Thippeswamy ◽  
Ajay Kumar Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Heat Transfer Rate ◽  
Transfer Rate ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Circulation Loop ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Natural Circulation Loop

Abstract The natural circulation loop (NCL) is widely used where the safe and economic heat transfer device is desired. However, the instability associated with the regular change in fluid flow behavior due to the imbalance between friction and buoyant forces is a major disadvantage. One of the erudite solutions to overcome this is to tilt the entire loop by a certain angle, with an inherent penalty in heat transfer and pressure drop. In the present study, experimental studies have been carried out on two-phase carbon dioxide (CO2) based NCL, which has gained popularity because of its compactness and higher heat transfer rate. Pressure drop and heat transfer performance of the loop for various tilt angles (0 deg, 30 deg, and 45 deg) in different planes (XY and YZ planes) have been investigated. Methanol is used as the external fluid in cold and hot heat exchangers in order to maintain low operating temperature in the loop. Results show that the tilting of the loop causes a marginal drop in the heat transfer rate of two-phase CO2 based NCL. Hence, tilting of the loop could be a solution to instability problem without conceding the performance of the loop.

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