Modeling of Upward Subcooled Flow Boiling of Refrigerant-113 in a Vertical Annulus

Abstract

In this paper, a modified two-fluid model has been adopted to simulate the process of upward vertical subcooled flow boiling of refrigerant R-113 in a vertical annular channel at low pressure. The modified model considers temperature dependent properties and saturation temperature variation and was validated against a number of published low-pressure subcooled boiling experiments. The results show good agreement with experimental data including radial profiles of void fraction, phase velocities and liquid temperature. A sinusoidal axial distribution of wall heat flux was applied as well as constant wall heat flux. Results show that by increasing the wall heat flux, the bubble boundary layer will become thicker and the profiles of axial liquid velocity will gradually depart from those of single-phase flow.