Effect of non-uniform axial heat-flux distribution on critical heat flux

Abstract

An experimental study of the effect of axial flux distribution (AFD) on critical heat flux (CHF) was conducted in directly heated tubes at the Freon-equivalent CANDU reactor conditions of interest. CHF measurements were obtained on test sections with four nonuniform AFD profiles as well as a uniform AFD profile using HFC-134a as a test fluid. Each of the non-uniform AFD test sections had a stepped cosine heat flux profile with approximately 16 heat flux steps. The test conditions covered a pressure range of 1662 to 2389 kPa, a mass flux range of 2827 to 4648 kg m-2 s -1 and an inlet quality range of -0.909 to -0.002. The results showed that the AFD has a strong effect on CHF at high dryout qualities. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)