Experimental investigation on pressure oscillation induced by steam injection into subcooled water through an opposite nozzle

Abstract

The pressure oscillation characteristics induced by steam jet condensation through an opposite nozzle were experimentally studied. Four condensation regimes, namely Chugging-I (Chug-I), Chugging-II (Chug-II), Condensation Oscillation-I (CO-I), and Condensation Oscillation-II (CO-II), were identified based on interfacial behaviors and corresponding pressure signals in the pipe and the water tank. In the Chug-I and Chug-II regimes, the probability density function (PDF) of the pressure signals in the pipe was highly asymmetric, while the PDF in the water tank was sharp unimodal distribution. The PDF in the CO-I regime was sharp unimodal distribution, symmetrical to 0 kPa. The PDF in the CO-II regime was asymmetrical dumpy distribution. In addition, the variations of pressure oscillation intensity in the pipe and the water tank were investigated. Finally, a modified correlation was proposed for predicting the dominant frequency of pressure oscillation, with the maximum deviation of ± 10 %.