Effect of steam condensation on countercurrent flow limiting in nearly horizontal two-phase flow

Abstract

An analytical model that includes the steam condensation effect has been derived and a parametric study has been performed. In addition, a series of experiments were performed and a total of 34 experimental data for the onset of countercurrent flow limiting (CCFL) in nearly horizontal countercurrent two-phase flow have been obtained for various flow rates of water. Comparisons of the present CCFL data with slug formation models show that the agreement between the present as well as the existing model and the data is about the same. However, the deviation between Taitel and Dukler's model predictions and the data is the largest when j(f) < 0.04 m s(-1). A parametric study of the effect of condensation using the present model shows that, when all local conditions are similar, the model predicted local gas velocities that cause the onset of flooding are slightly lower when condensation occurred. Based on the visual observation and the evaluation of the present work, it has been concluded that the criterion derived for the onset of slug flow can be directly used to predict the onset of inner flooding in nearly horizontal two-phase flow within the experimental ranges of the present work. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.