Dynamics of multiple parallel boiling channel systems with forced flows

Abstract

This work investigates the nonlinear dynamics of multiple parallel boiling channels with forced flows by using the Galerkin nodal approximation method. The stability maps for multiple-channel systems subject to a constant total mass flow rate are constructed on the basis of the average heat flux and mass flow rate on the parameter plane of the subcooling and phase change numbers. The limit cycle oscillations for 3-, 4- and 5-channel systems indicate that the most heated channel exhibits the largest magnitude of oscillation, and is out-of-phase with the other channels. Owing to that the boiling assembly contains only a small number of channels, the above system becomes unstable due to channel-to-channel interaction with an increase of the channel number. This work also elucidates the dynamics of a 3-channel system with a periodic total mass flow rate. In addition, complicated nonlinear oscillations are predicted for different operating points with high inlet subcooling numbers in the stable region. The system dynamics are highly sensitive to the frequency of the forcing function. Periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic oscillations may appear in the forcing function system. Unstable oscillations appear when either the frequency of the forcing function is equal or extremely close to the system’s natural frequency or the two frequencies are frequency-locking.