The effect of flow geometry on critical heat flux.

Abstract

An extensive and systematic literature review on the effect of flow geometry on the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) has been performed. This review covers most of the flow geometries such as tubes, concentric and eccentric annuli, rectangular channels, irregular-shaped channels and bundles. The following geometric parameters have been found to strongly influence the CHF: (i) hydraulic-equivalent diameter, (ii) heated-equivalent diameter, (iii) gap size, (iv) unheated adjacent surface, (v) heated adjacent surface, (vi) curvature, (vii) eccentricity (including bowing), and (viii) channel shape. It is found that some of the geometric effects on CHF depend on the flow conditions and the CHF type. For each geometry the parametric trends have been described, whenever sufficient experimental results are available. A review and assessment of the available prediction methods is conducted. The following trends have been identified in this study: (i) in general the CHF in annuli (concentric and eccentric) is lower than that in tubes, especially for high quality and narrow gaps; (ii) for rectangular channels and irregular-shaped channels, corners can cause a large CHF reduction; (iii) the CHF for concave surface is significantly higher than the CHF for a convex surface; (iv) the effect of gap size in concentric annuli is different for a departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) type CHF and CHF type for the annular flow regime. For the first CHF type reduction in gap size results in a CHF decrease, while for the second CHF type it results in CHF enhancement; and (v) heating the adjacent surface results in a CHF increase. Based on the observed trends, CHF correction factors have been derived for each geometry. Finally, an interim CHF prediction method for subchannels and flow conditions of interest to CANDU$\sp*$ reactors has been proposed. ftn$\sp*$CANDU--CANada Deuterium Uranium, a registered trademark.