Two-phase flow boiling instabilities: A review

The present work is to solve or suppress the two-phase flow boiling instability. A comprehensive review shows the research progress of flow instability types, experimental and numerical investigation methods, and influence of different parameters and control strategies of flow instability in recent years. The results show that the instability is the inevitable result of two-phase flow boiling. The types and causes of flow instability are indicated by pressure drop and temperature fluctuations, reverse flow, critical heat flux (CHF) and dry out. Refrigerant flow in the loop system and nonlinear time domain analysis are the com-mon methods of experimental and numerical research, respectively. Mass flux, system pressure, heat flux and inlet subcooling are considered to be the main factors affecting flow instability. These instabilities not only cause control problems, but also affect heat transfer characteristics, resulting in the system and equipment unable to work normally, so more attention is being paid to using various techniques to suppress flow instabilities. Flow passage modification is the more commonly used and effective method to overcome the flow instability. Besides, topics worthy of attention for future research in flow instability are proposed.(c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This article comprehensively reviews the research progress on two-phase flow boiling instability, including types of instability, experimental and numerical investigation methods, and the influence of various parameters and control strategies. The results show that flow instability is an inevitable result of two-phase flow boiling, characterized by pressure drop and temperature fluctuations, reverse flow, critical heat flux (CHF), and dryout. Flow passage modification is an effective method to overcome flow instability. Future research can focus on the proposed topics of attention for flow instability.