Interfacial characteristics of steam jet condensation in subcooled water pipe flow - An experimental and numerical study

Subsonic and sonic steam jet condensation in subcooled water pipe flow is investigated experimentally and numerically. Steam plumes are captured using a high-speed camera, and thermal hydraulic parameters and heat and mass transfer are revealed by a two-fluid model coupled with a phase change model. As the Reynolds number of water increases, the steam plumes show a conical shape and gradually shorten in length. The steam dynamic pressure suddenly drops at the nozzle outlet, and the water dynamic pressure rises sharply to the maximum at the end of the two-phase region where the steam volume fraction is 0.001. Starting from the single-phase region, the pressure, velocity and temperature of the jet are self-similar. The heat and mass transfer mainly occur in the two-phase region with steam volume fractions between 0.01 and 0.99, and the mass transfer reaches the maximum at the phase interface with the steam volume fraction of 0.60. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the condensation of subsonic and sonic steam jets in subcooled water pipe flow through experimental and numerical methods. The shape of steam plumes and various thermal hydraulic parameters, heat and mass transfer processes are analyzed. The results show that as the Reynolds number of water increases, the length of steam plumes gradually shortens and takes on a conical shape. At the end of the two-phase region, where the steam volume fraction is 0.001, the water dynamic pressure reaches its maximum while the steam dynamic pressure drops suddenly at the nozzle outlet. The pressure, velocity, and temperature of the jet exhibit self-similarity in the single-phase region. Heat and mass transfer mainly occur in the two-phase region with steam volume fractions between 0.01 and 0.99, with the maximum mass transfer observed at the phase interface with a steam volume fraction of 0.60.