• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.236-255
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• 1999

An improved mechanistic model was developed to predict a convective boiling critical heat flux (CHF) in the vertical round tubes with uniform heat fluxes. The CHF formula for subcooled and low quality boiling was derived from the local conservation equations of mass, energy and momentum, together with appropriate constitutive relations. The model is characterized by the momentum balance equation to determine the limiting transverse interchange of mass flux crossing the interface of wall bubbly layer and core by taking account of the convective shear effect due to the frictional drag on the wall-attached bubbles. Comparison between the present model predictions and experimental CHF data from several sources shows good agreement over a wide range of How conditions. The present model shows comparable prediction accuracy with the CHF look-up table of Groeneveld et al. Also the model correctly accounts for the effects of flow variables as well as geometry parameters.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.449-456
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• 1998

A theoretical critical heat flux (CLE) model. based on lateral bubble coalescence on the heated wall, is proposed to predict the subcooled flow boiling CHF in a uniformly heated vertical tube. The model is based on the concept that a single layer of bubbles contacted to the heated wall events a bulk liquid from reaching the wall at near CHF condition. Comparisons between the model predictions and experimental data result in satisfactory agreement within less than 9.73 % root-mean-square error by the appropriate choice of the critical void fraction in the bubbly layer. The present model shows comparable performance with the CHF look-up table of Groeneveld et al.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.552-557
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• 1997

Based on the bubble coalescence adjacent to the heated wall as a flow structure for CHF condition, Chang and Lee developed a mechanistic critical heat flux (CHF) model for subcooled flow boiling. In this paper, improvements of Chang-Lee model are implemented with more solid theoretical bases for subcooled and low-quality flow boiling in tubes. Nedderman-Shearer's equations for the skin friction factor and universal velocity profile models are employed. Slip effect of movable bubbly layer is implemented to improve the predictability of low mass flow. Also, mechanistic subcooled flow boiling model is used to predict the flow quality and void fraction. The performance of the present model is verified using the KAIST CHF database of water in uniformly heated tubes. It is found that the present model can give a satisfactory agreement with experimental data within less than 9% RMS error.