CFD analysis of probe interaction with expanding wet steam

Research on the impact of the interaction between an optical probe and the expanding steam flow field in a steam turbine on the measured parameters of the liquid phase of the wet steam has been ongoing at Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) for several years. Previous CFD analyses were newly supplemented by the effect of changing the diameter and number of fine droplets as well as changing of steam wetness in the probe measuring space. The knowledge obtained was used to improve corrections of the extinction measurements at CTU and for conceptual design of a new extinction probe for phase transition investigation in high pressure steam. This paper briefly introduces these results