Modeling of vapor mass formation under forced convective boiling condition

Ono, Ayako; Okawa, Tomio*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 62(12), p.1231 - 1239, 2025/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2025.2570642

The development of a precise and reliable prediction method for a departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) is urgently needed to design and develop new-generation reactors that enable us to establish a carbon-neutral society. In this study, we consider that the formation of a large vapor mass on the heating surface is the primary trigger of the DNB. Therefore, we embark on the development of a new model for vapor mass formation under forced convective boiling. We assume that the primary bubbles coalesced with each other, which are generated from the nucleation sites, and the coalesced bubble is formed. The nucleation sites are assumed to be distributed on the basis of the Poisson distribution. The large vapor mass is assumed to be formed by the merging of coalesced bubbles when the diameter of the coalesced bubble satisfies the criteria of the slug formation by Mishima. The analysis using the experimental data showed that the proposed model predicted the heat flux to form the large vapor mass well.

Modeling of vapor mass formation under forced convective boiling condition

Ono, Ayako; Okawa, Tomio*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Proceedings of 14th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics, Operation, and Safety (NUTHOS-14) (Internet), 11 Pages, 2024/08

The development of a precise and reliable prediction method for a departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) is urgently needed to design and develop new-generation reactors that enable us to establish a carbon-neutral society. In this study, we consider that the formation of a large vapor mass on the heating surface is the primary trigger of the DNB. Therefore, we embark on the development of a new model for vapor mass formation under forced convective boiling. We assume that the primary bubbles coalesced with each other, which are generated from the nucleation sites, and the coalesced bubble is formed. The nucleation sites are assumed to be distributed on the basis of the Poisson distribution. The large vapor mass is assumed to be formed by the merging of coalesced bubbles when the diameter of the coalesced bubble satisfies the criteria of the slug formation by Mishima. The model reproduced the dependency of vapor mass formation heat flux on the bulk velocity.

Experimental study on the breakup of liquid jet discharged from a nozzle with sudden contraction

Sun, G.*; Okawa, Tomio*; Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro; Uchibori, Akihiro; Okano, Yasushi

Proceedings of 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2023/05

When liquid sodium leaks as a liquid jet from piping in a sodium-cooled fast reactor, the jet impinges with structures to produce splashing droplets which can cause significant combustion. According to previous studies on circular nozzles, the amount of splash is affected by the state of the jet at the moment of impingement. In the present work, a nozzle with a sudden contraction in the cross-sectional area was designed to reproduce a supposed pipe leakage, and the breakup behavior of jet discharged from this nozzle was observed. The result shows that the breakup of jet was accelerated until the jet transformed into a particularly stable state when the jet velocity exceeded a certain value. Once the jet has transformed, it will not turn back unless turning down the flow rate to a very low value. The stable jet after the transformation has a longer breakup length than that before the transformation in the same flow rate.

Toward mechanistic evaluation of critical heat flux in nuclear reactors, 2; Recent studies and future challenges toward mechanistic and reliable CHF evaluation

Okawa, Tomio*; Mori, Shoji*; Liu, W.*; Ose, Yasuo*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Ono, Ayako

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 63(12), p.820 - 824, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.63.12_820

The evaluation method of the critical heat flux based on the mechanism is needed for the efficient design and development of fuel in reactors and the appropriate safety evaluation. In this paper, the current researches relating to the mechanism of the critical heat flux are reviewed, and the issue to be considered in the future are discussed.

Experimental study on secondary droplets produced during liquid jet impingement onto a horizon solid surface

Zhan, Y.*; Kuwata, Yusuke*; Okawa, Tomio*; Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro; Takata, Takashi

Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 120, p.110249_1 - 110249_12, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2020.110249

Droplet generation during liquid jet impingement onto a horizontal plate

Zhan, Y.*; Oya, Naoki*; Enoki, Koji*; Okawa, Tomio*; Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro; Takata, Takashi

Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 98, p.86 - 94, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2018.05.022

Splash during liquid jet impingement onto a horizontal plate

Zhan, Y.*; Oya, Naoki*; Enoki, Koji*; Okawa, Tomio*; Ohno, Shuji; Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro; Takata, Takashi

Proceedings of 25th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-25) (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2017/07

It is important to set the amount of sodium droplet mechanistically for appropriate numerical evaluations of sodium leak and fire behavior in a sodium-cooled fast reactor plant. In the present work, fundamental experiments are performed to measure the splash ratio during the vertical water jet impact onto a horizontal wall. It is shown that the splash ratio can be correlated well as a function of the impact Weber number and dimensionless impact frequency.

Experimental study on splashing during liquid jet impingement onto a liquid film

Yi, Z.*; Oya, Naoki*; Enoki, Koji*; Okawa, Tomio*; Ohno, Shuji; Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro

Proceedings of 24th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-24) (DVD-ROM), 7 Pages, 2016/06

https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE24-60033

It is important to set the amount of sodium droplet mechanistically for appropriate numerical evaluations of sodium leak and fire behavior in a sodium-cooled fast reactor plant. In the present work, fundamental experiments were performed to measure the splash ratio during the vertical water jet impact onto a horizontal wall. It was shown that the splash ratio can be correlated well as a function of the impact Weber number and the Strouhal number of the droplets impinging the liquid film.

Splashing droplets during liquid jet collision onto solid surface

Zhan, Y.*; Kuwata, Yusuke*; Maruyama, Kiyotaka*; Enoki, Koji*; Okawa, Tomio*; Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro; Takata, Takashi

no journal, , 

This study aims improvement of safety analysis for sodium fire accidents in sodium-cooled fast reactors. In the experiment, splashing droplets are investigated by observation of liquid jet collision onto a solid surface.

Study on splashing droplets during the breakup liquid jet collision onto solid surface

Zhan, Y.*; Oya, Naoki*; Enoki, Koji*; Okawa, Tomio*; Aoyagi, Mitsuhiro; Ohno, Shuji; Takata, Takashi

no journal, , 

This study aims improvement of safety analysis for sodium fire accidents in sodium-cooled fast reactors. In the experiment, droplets were generated by collision of breakup liquid jet onto a solid surface. We studied the mechanism of droplet generation and the empirical correlation of droplet amount.