Flow regime and void fraction predictions in vertical rod bundle flow channels

Han, X.*; Shen, X.*; Yamamoto, Toshihiro*; Nakajima, Ken*; Sun, Haomin   ; Hibiki, Takashi*

This paper studies the flow regimes, their transitions and the drift-flux correlations in upward gas-liquid two-phase flows in vertical rod bundle flow channels. The flows are classified into 5 flow regimes, namely, bubbly, finely dispersed bubbly, cap-bubbly, churn and annular flows according to their different flow characteristics. Transition criteria between the flow regimes are proposed mechanistically. Those criteria can correctly predict 83% of the existing experimental observation of the flow regime. The drift-flux correlations for the distribution parameter and the drift velocity are also improved. The void fractions predicted by those correlations are compared with the existing experimental data, showing satisfactory agreement with mean relative error of 8%.