Onset of flooding data at variable pressure in a large diameter tube for air-water and saturated steam-water fluid pairs
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: An experimental investigation to acquire flooding data for steam-water and air-water fluid pairs in a large-diameter vertical tube at above-atmospheric pressures has been conducted. The experimental program presented herein is the first to use a single test section with controlled boundary conditions for these pairs in a large-diameter vertical tube, enabling consistent comparisons of flooding characteristics. Many data exist for air-water flooding in annular flow within a large-diameter vertical tube and at various pressures. Steam-water flows are of interest for reactor applications, but insufficient data are available to enable reliable analysis. Evaluation of the effect of the fluid pair is performed to understand the applicability of the air-water data to steam-water applications. The pressure range was investigated by obtaining data at nominal pressures of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 MPa (0, 15, 30 and 45 psig) for air-water and steam-water flow conditions. Water subcooling was minimized to the extent possible in the steam-water tests to reduce the effect of phase change and permit a more level comparison with the air-water data. All data reported herein were taken at the onset of flooding, that is, conditions when flow reversal of the liquid phase first occurs. Flooding characteristics are presented in terms of the dimensionless Kutateladze parameter. The saturated steam-water flooding data over the pressure range closely trend with the air-water data.
Source: Nuclear Engineering and Design
Institutions: Texas A&M University, Naval Nuclear Laboratory
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,710
OpenAlex ID: W7221521522