Model for Choking of Subcooled Flashing Flow Through a Steam Generator Tube Crack

Abstract

Recently there is some database available on choking flow through cracks relevant to steam generator (SG) tubes to model the critical flow. A one dimensional mechanistic model was developed to model two-phase choking flow through slits from conservation principles. The model takes into account channel entrance loss as well as frictional pressure drop for single-phase subcooled liquid. Flashing criteria are defined and temperature and pressure of the fluid are assumed to follow the saturation curve. The two-phase mixture was treated as a quasi-fluid with mixture properties and both homogenous equilibrium (HE) and homogeneous non-equilibrium models were considered. The models were compared with the choking flow rates for various experimental conditions for subcooled flashing flow through narrow slits with L/D varying from small values ( 5) to large values (100). Results are presented on the effects of thermal non-equilibrium on the choking flow for small L/D channels. A comparison of model results to experimental data shows that the HE based models grossly under predict choking flow rates in such geometries. As subcooling increases, and channel length decreases the non-equilibrium effects play a greater role in the choking phenomenon, therefore the difference in model predictions and experimental results increases for HE case.