Semitheoretical formulation of annular flow void fraction using the principle of minimum entropy production

Abstract

The two-phase flow void fraction is a critical parameter for characterising the pressure drop as well as heat and mass transfer capability of the working fluid within thermal systems, the accurate estimation of which drives heat exchanger design and control optimisation. A semitheoretical expression for the void fraction of two-phase flows, also applicable to small-sized channels, is obtained from an analytical study based on the principle of minimum entropy production and the introduction of empirical coefficients to be fitted to experimental data available in the open literature. These coefficients embody the importance of the simplified physical terms of this formulation while recovering the accuracy loss owing to nonlinear phenomena, heat and mass transfer, and three-dimensional effects. By accounting for surface tension, this model generalises previous theories and describes the influence of smaller-sized channels in terms of the stable void fraction. This mathematical framework can be used to summarise data covering different refrigerants, channel diameters, and operating conditions.