Library Subscription: Guest

ISSN Online: 2377-424X

International Heat Transfer Conference 12
August, 18-23, 2002, Grenoble, France

Development of a pulser for the controlled initiation of condensation implosion events

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC12.420
6 pages

Abstract

At LEI (Lithuanian Energy Institute)an experimental program has been initiated to investigate the 'condensation implosion' phenomena that can occur for horizontally stratified liquid-vapour flow conditions. The goal is to develop a pulser component and understand the critical boundary conditions sufficiently so that the phenomenon can be controlled and initiated. The application possibilities of a 'pulser component' will become more apparent once its basic parameters and operational characteristics are determined. After a reliable pulser is developed, the follow up goal, is to implement this unique component in a thermal-hydraulic system designed to perform certain tasks, e.g. to pump water or to transport energy passively in a downward direction.
Experimental data obtained to data has shown that pulsers can be designed in which the vapour-liquid inter-face perturbation required for the initiation of 'condensation implosions' is generated internally and depends solely on the rate at which liquid is supplied to the pulser. The dependence of this 'critical' liquid flow rate on system pressure, location and orientation of liquid and steam supply nozzles has been explored. Four distinct condensation modes have been identified. Data is presented which documents the conditions required for transition from a smooth to a wavy inter-face, and subsequently to an exponentially increasing surface distortion that culminates in a 'condensation implosion'.