Experimental validation of sonic speed theory for wet steam

Abstract

In order to obtain the sonic speed of the wet steam under different thermal conditions, and verify the accuracy and the precision of Petr’s wet steam sonic theory, experimental measurements were carried out. Also, the effects of acoustic frequency, pressure, wetness, and droplet size on the sonic speed of wet steam were studied based on Petr’s wet steam sonic theory. Results indicate that deviations between the experimental results and Petr’s wet steam sonic theory is in the range of −4%–4%, which is within the experimental measurement error of ±5%. The variation range of the ratio of the actual sonic speed a to the frozen speed af is 0.89–1. When the sonic speed ratio ( a/ af) is close to 1, it means that the sonic speed of wet steam is close to the frozen speed, and the faster the sound wave propagates in the wet steam. In the acoustic frequency range of 102–105 Hz, the sonic speed of wet steam increases with increase of acoustic frequency, pressure, and water droplet size, and decreases with increasing wetness.