Probabilistic Flow Regime Map Modeling of Two -Phase Flow

189 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006.The purpose of this investigation is to develop models for two-phase heat transfer, void fraction, and pressure drop, three key design parameters, in single, smooth, horizontal tubes using a common probabilistic two-phase flow regime basis. Probabilistic two-phase flow maps are experimentally developed for R134a at 25°C, 35°C, and 50°C, R410A at 25°C, mass fluxes from 100 to 600 kg/m2-s, qualities from 0 to 1 in 8.00 mm, 5.43 mm, 3.90 mm, and 1.74 mm I.D. horizontal, smooth, adiabatic tubes in order to extend probabilistic two-phase flow map modeling to single tubes. An automated flow visualization technique, utilizing image recognition software and a new optical method, is developed to classify the flow regimes present in approximately one million captured images. The probabilistic two-phase flow maps developed are represented as continuous functions and generalized based on physical parameters. Condensation heat transfer, void fraction, and pressure drop models are developed for single tubes utilizing the generalized flow regime map developed. The condensation heat transfer model is compared to experimentally obtained condensation data of R134a at 25°C in 8.915 mm diameter smooth copper tube with mass fluxes ranging from 100 to 300 kg/m 2-s and a full quality range. The condensation heat transfer, void fraction, and pressure drop models developed are also compared to data found in the literature for a wide range of tube sizes, refrigerants, and flow conditions.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD