Modeling Heterogeneous Wall Nucleation in Flashing Flow of Initially Subcooled Water

An analytical model to calculate rate of vapor generation due to heterogeneous wall nucleation in flashing flow is developed. In the present model, an important parameter of the vapor generation term, i.e. nucleation site density is calculated by integrating its probability distribution function with respect to active cavity radius. The limits of integration are minimum and maximum active cavity radii, and these are formulated using an active cavity model for nucleate boiling. This formulation, therefore. can statistically account for the effect of surface specific thermo-physical and geometric conditions on the vapor generation rate and flashing inception. For verifying the adequacy of the present model, steady state two-fluid and the bubble transport equations are solved with applicable constitutive equations. The applicable region of the bubble transport equation is also extended to churn-turbulent flow regime to predict interfacial area concentration at high void fraction. Predicted results in terms of axial pressure and void fraction profiles along the channels are compared with experimental data of Super Moby Dick and BNL Reasonable agreements have been achieved and this shows the applicability of the present model to flashing flow analysis.