Experimental study on Ledinegg flow instability of two-phase natural circulation in narrow rectangular channels at low pressure. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qi, Shi; Zhou, Tao; Li, Bing; Shahzad, Muhammad Ali; Zou, Yaxiong; Huang, Yan-Ping
• Is Part Of: Progress in nuclear energy. Volume 98(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 321
• Page End: 328
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Narrow rectangular channel -- Two-phase flow -- Low pressure -- Natural circulation -- Ledinegg flow instability; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 333.7924
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2017.04.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-1970

Abstract

Abstract: Ledinegg flow instability of two-phase natural circulation has been experimentally investigated based on a natural circulation device with narrow rectangular channels. When heating power reaches a certain range, the Ledinegg flow instability occurs in the system, accompanied by flow oscillation. The stability of the experimental system increases with the increasing of inlet sub-cooling, pressure and size of rectangular channels. Stability boundaries of the system are obtained by the sub-cooling number and the phase change number. It is discovered that there are 4 stages of Ledinegg flow instability in the narrow rectangular channels: condensation, ebullition, choking, and rebalance. Finally, the experience correlation is proposed for the initial power of Ledinegg flow instability in narrow rectangular channels. Highlights: Inlet subcooling, pressure and gap size affect the Ledinegg flow instability. Ledinegg flow instability is classified into 4 stages for narrow channels. Empirical formula is proposed for initial power of Ledinegg flow instability.