Air-Water Tests on Counter-current Flow Limitation at Lower End of Vertical Pipes Simulating Lower Part of Steam Generator U-tube

Abstract

Air-water tests on counter-current flow limitation (CCFL) were carried out using vertical pipes with the diameter of D=20 mm and a sharp lower edge which simulated the lower part of U-tubes in a steam generator. Flow patterns were observed to identify the location of CCFL occurrence, and effects of the pipe length L and the water level in the upper tank h on CCFL were measured under the conditions of L=100-700 mm and h=100-600 mm. As a result, CCFL appeared at the upper end under the conditions of L/D=5 and h/D=5, but at the lower end for L/D≧15 and h/D=5～30. In the case of the CCFL occurrence at the lower end, L and h did not affect CCFL characteristics. Using the Wallis parameters, JG* and JL*, a CCFL correlation for the sharp lower edge was derived. The CCFL constant, which is the value of JG*1/2 at JL*1/2=0, was C=0.73±0.02.