Experimental study of hydrodynamic parameters regarding on geyser boiling phenomenon in glass thermosyphon using wire-mesh sensor

Abstract

The thermosyphon is a type of heat exchanger that has been widely used in\n many applications. The use of thermosyphons has been intensified in recent\n years, mainly in the manufacture of solar collectors and various industrial\n activities. A thermosyphon is a vertical sealed tube filled with a working\n fluid, consisting of, from bottom to top, by an evaporator, an adiabatic\n section, and a condenser. The study of geyser-boiling phenomena, which\n occurs inside the thermosyphon is of extreme importance, therefore the\n experimental analysis of the parameters related to the two-phase flow\n (liquid-steam), such as void fraction, bubble frequency, bubble velocity,\n and bubble length are necessary, since these parameters have a significant\n influence on heat transfer. In this work, a pair of wire mesh sensors was\n used, a relative innovative technology to obtain experimental values of the\n reported quantities for measuring these parameters of slug flow in\n thermosyphons. An experimental setup is assembled and the sensors are\n coupled to the thermosyphon enabling the development of the experimental\n procedure. Here is presented an experimental study of a glass thermosyphon\n instrumented with two Wire-Mesh Sensors, in which the aforementioned slug\n flow hydrodynamic parameters inherent to the geyser type boiling process are\n measured. It was measured successfully, as a function of the heat load (110,\n 120, 130, 140, and 150W), the void fraction (instantly and average), liquid\n film thickness, translation velocity of the elongated bubbles, lengths of\n the bubbles, and the liquid slug (displaced by the bubble rise up). It was\n observed that the higher the heat load, the lower is the bubble translation\n velocity. For all heat loads, based on the measured length of liquid slug\n (consequent displacement of liquid volume), caused by bubbles rise from\n evaporator to condenser, it could be affirmed to some extent that both\n boiling regime (pool and film) exist in the evaporator. The measured average\n void fraction (80%) and liquid film thickness (around 2.5mm) during the\n elongated bubble passages were approximately constant and independent of the\n heat load.