Axial Distribution of Bulk Temperature and Void Fraction in a Heated Channel With Inlet Subcooling

Abstract

A theoretical model is developed to determine the axial temperature distribution of subcooled liquid. It is a simple function of a heat transfer and a condensation parameter. The proposed model satisfactorily correlates the measured bulk temperature profiles. The corresponding mid fraction is computed by using a new empirical slip correlation, valid in both subcooled and bulk boiling regions. The resulting axial void profile has been compared (over the entire heated length) with steam and water data from six different sources, covering a wide range of pressure, mass flux, surface heat flux, inlet subcooling and channel geometry. The method gives satisfactory agreement with experimental data.