NE-3104: Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety Laboratory

NE-3104: Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety

Laboratory

Experiment no: 02
Name of the experiment:

Date of submission: 07 May, 2024

Submitted by: Monowar Maruf,

Department of Nuclear Engineering,
University of Dhaka
Roll: 06
Year: 3rd
Semester: 1st
Session: 2020-21

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 NE-3104: Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety Laboratory

Objective

1. Study of phases of Boiling.

2. Study of boiling by increasing the flow rate of heated water.
3. Study of boiling by increasing temperature of boiling water.
4. Study reduction in boiling point by decreasing the pressure.

Theory

Boiling is the term used to describe the phenomena that occurs when evaporation takes place at a
solid-liquid interface. The process will occur when the surface temperature Ts exceeds the saturation
temperature associated with the liquid pressure Tsat. . Heat is transferred to the liquid from the surface
according to Newton's law of cooling

𝑞𝑠′′ = ℎ(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑠𝑎𝑡 ) = ℎΔ𝑇𝑒

Where, 𝑞𝑠′′ = heat flux at the surface

ℎ = heat transfer coefficient
Δ𝑇𝑒 = 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑠𝑒𝑡 , excess temperature

Boiling is characterized by the formation of vapor bubbles, which grow and eventually disengage from
the surface. The growth of the bubbles and their subsequent dynamics depend upon the excess
temperature, the surface characteristics, and on the thermo-physical properties of the fluid, the most
important of which is the surface tension. The dynamics of the vapor bubble formation influence fluid
motion near the surface which affects the heat transfer coefficient.

Boiling may transpire under a variety of conditions. In this experiment, pool boiling will be
investigated. This term refers to a condition where the liquid is quiescent and the liquid motion near
the surface is due to free convection and to mixing induced by bubble growth and subsequent
detachment. Another definition for pool boiling refers simply to conditions in which the heated surface
is submerged below a free surface of liquid. Saturated boiling is a condition in which most of the
liquid is at a temperature slightly greater than saturation while at the liquid-solid interface there is a
significant decrease in liquid temperature. Bubbles that form on the solid surface are driven upward by
buoyant forces and eventually are transported to the gas above the free surface. Figure 1 depicts the
typical temperature distribution in saturated pool boiling. Sub-cooled boiling occurs when the liquid
temperature is less than the saturation temperature and the bubbles that are formed eventually
condense in the liquid.

EVAPORATION VS BOILING:

Ordinary evaporation is a surface phenomenon - since the vapor pressure is low and since the pressure
inside the liquid is equal to atmospheric pressure plus the liquid pressure, bubbles of water vapor
cannot form. But at the boiling point, the saturated vapor pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure,
bubbles form, and the vaporization becomes a volume phenomenon. This experiment is to see the
effects of boiling and for this the machine used is H411 Unit Flow Boiling.

The Overall system is divided into 3 autonomous circuits.

1. Evaporation Circuit
2. Heating Circuit
3. Cooling Circuit

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 NE-3104: Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety Laboratory

Figure 1: Flow boiling in H411.

The central component is a glass tube. The actual evaporation takes place inside the tube. The top upper end
of this tube opens into a glass container. This serves as a condenser and collector for the evaporation fluid.
A water cooled coil provides cooling. In the top lid of the collector there is a pressure relief valve and a
vent, and a manometer. The evaporation fluid flows from the collector back to the generating tube. A flow
control valve controls flow rate. By means of water jet air pump a defined vacuum can be generated in the
evaporation circuit. The water jet is activated via the valve.

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 NE-3104: Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety Laboratory

Heating Circuit:

The heating water is heated by the electrical heater and the delivery pump into the expansion tank. From
there the water flows into the generating tuber. A thermometer measures the intake air temperature. The
water temperature is thermostatically controlled and can be adjusted on the heater.

Cooling Circuit:

The cooling water, like the water for the jet pump is taken from the water main. After passing through the
condenser pipe the water is fed into an outlet. A valve in the inlet allows the cooling power to adjust.

Components and Apparatus

The experiment utilizes the following key components and apparatus:

1. Flow Boiling Demonstration Unit H411.

2. Comprehensive operation manual for guidance and reference.

System Operation

We will observe the following boiling phases.

1. Sub cooled
2. Bubbly flow
3. Slug flow
4. Annular flow
5. Film flow
6. Dry saturated steam
7. Super-heated steam
The cold water enters from the below pipe. As the temperature rises little bubbles of steam occur. This
is the sub cooled region. As the temperature rises further steam bubbles appear in the pipe this is the
bubbly flow. The temperature is now at boiling point and remains constant. The small bubbles go up
and merge into large bubbles. As they fill most of the cross section area of the pipe and go up, they are
known as in slug flow. After this occur the annular flow in which the center is filled with only steam
and droplets of water. Film flow occurs at the end of ring flow. After this the steam gains more heat n
moisture from it is removed this is known as dry saturated steam. After this stage on gain more heat
some molecule heat contents become very high they are in super-heated form now.
Procedure:
The experiment is carried as given in the following steps.
1. Set the apparatus and turn on the machine.
2. Check all the things are in place and the instruments are clean and working.
3. Set the heater to 60°C.
4. Fully open cooling water valve.
5. Open circulation control valve 1/2 a turn.

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 NE-3104: Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety Laboratory

6. Close vent valve.

7. Switch on heater and pump.
8. Water temperature on the thermometer rises.
9. Around 40°-50°C the first evaporation begins, and the pressure in the collector rises.
10. At around 60° and a little rise in pressure the boiling zones as discussed above are formed in the
evaporator pipe.
11. By setting the things right and controlling the temperatures and pressure we can see all the phases
of boiling clearly.

Data Collection and Analysis

In this experiment we see the different phases of boiling of the fluid as shown in the diagrams and
described in the theory. They all are inter linked with each other in a manner. Then we also saw that
effect of increasing the flow rate of water can affect the boiling of the fluid used. As the water flows
rapidly less contact time will be available and heat transfer will be low so boiling will take more time
and if water has low flow rate boiling will be faster as contact time is sufficient.
We saw that if we increase the temperature of the heated water its effect on the fluid will be, that its
boiling temperature will be achieved soon. Due to the increased temperature of water and the heat
exchanged.
As we know that on decreasing the pressure the boiling temperature also decreases. So if we decrease
the pressure the boiling point of the fluid will also decrease causing it to condense rapidly and get back
into the liquid form.
Now as we know that there is cold water flowing in the coil type condenser to extract heat form the
refrigerant. If the water is at low temperature means it is cold water then it will extract more heat form
the refrigerant and the rate of condensation of the refrigerant will increase. But if the temperature is
high of the condensing water then it will extract less heat form the refrigerant and condensation will be
slow or may occur in the loss of refrigerant.

Discussion
Upon completion of this laboratory assignment, as part of the course NE-3104 - Thermal Hydraulics
and Reactor Safety Lab at the University of Dhaka, a solid and fundamental understanding of flow
boiling is obtained. The H411 Unit setup has offered an opportunity for hands-on experience in the
practical effects of burnout, nucleate boiling, partial film boiling and full film boiling.

References
1. Holman, J.P., Heat Transfer, 7th Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1990.
2. Incropera, F.P. and Dewitt, D.P., Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, John Wiley & Sons, New
York, 1990.
3. Chappa, S.C. and Canale, R.P., Numerical Methods for Engineers, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York,
1988.
4. Yakowitz,S., and Szidarovszky, F., An Introduction to Numerical Computations, 2nd Ed., Macmillan
Publishing Co., New York, 1989.
5. Holman, J.P., Experimental Methods for Engineers, 4th Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1984