Simon Lo

Modelling of Break-up and Coalescence in Bubbly Two-Phase Flows

Numerical simulations of gas-liquid two-phase flow with high superficial velocity in a vertical pipe were conducted with the use of the commercial software package STAR-CD 3.27. The change in bubble size due to breakup and coalescence was modelled by the Sγ model. The applicability and performance of the Sγ model in modelling of gas-liquid bubbly flow were studied. The sensitivity of the Sγ model to the distribution moment γ, and the drainage mode were investigated. The numerical results were compared with the experimental data of Hibiki et al., (2001). Good agreement was achieved for axial velocities and void fraction for all tested cases. It was found in this work that the Sγ model is capable of predicting with reasonable accuracy the bubble size and its distribution even in high void fraction. Except in the near wall region, the simulated bubble size and therefore the interfacial area density fit well with the experiment measurements. It was observed that the predicted bubble size and interfacial area ...

Advances in Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Two Phase Flow in a Boiling Water Reactor Fuel Assembly

A new code, CFD-BWR, is being developed for the simulation of two-phase flow phenomena inside a BWR fuel bundle. These phenomena include coolant phase changes and multiple flow regimes which directly influence the coolant interaction with fuel assembly and, ultimately, the reactor performance. CFD-BWR is a specialized module built on the foundation of the commercial CFD code STAR-CD which provides general two-phase flow modeling capabilities. New models describing the inter-phase mass, momentum, and energy transfer phenomena specific for BWRs have been developed and implemented in the CFD-BWR module. A set of experiments focused on two-phase flow and phase-change phenomena has been identified for the validation of the CFD-BWR code and results of two experiment analyses focused on the radial void distribution are presented. The close agreement between the computed results, the measured data and the correlation results provides confidence in the accuracy of the models. (authors)

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Two-Phase Flow Topologies in a Boiling Water Reactor Fuel Assembly

This paper presents recent advances in the development and validation of the two-phase flow topology models implemented in CFD-BWR, an advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) computer code that allows the detailed analysis of the two-phase flow and heat transfer phenomena in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) fuel assemblies under various operating conditions. The local inter-phase surface topology plays a central role in determining the mass, momentum, and energy exchanges between the liquid and vapor phases and between the two-phase coolant and the fuel pin cladding. The paper describes the topology map used to determine the local inter-phase surface topology and the role of the local topology in determining the inter-phase mass, momentum, and energy transfer. It discusses the relationship between the local interphase surface topology and the traditional channel flow regimes and presents results of experiment analyses in which computed local topologies are aggregated into flow regimes and compared with experimental observations.Copyright

The Importance of Correct Modeling of Bubble Size and Condensation in Prediction of Sub-Cooled Boiling Flows

This paper describes the updating of the sub-cooled boiling model used in CFD codes with the more recent and better sub-models. The improved sub-models include: Hibiki and Ishii [1] correlation for nucleation site density, Kocamustafaogullari [2] correlation for bubble departure diameter and the S-gamma model of Lo and Rao [3] for bubble size distribution in the flow. The new model has been tested against measured data from Debora [4] and Bartolomei [5]. The results show that improvement in the bubble size prediction has the most significant impact on the accuracy of the model.

CFD Modeling of Boiling Flow in PSBT 5×5 Bundle

Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to model the boiling two-phase flow in one of the PSBT 5-by-5 rod bundle tests. The rod bundle with all the spacers was modeled explicitly using unstructured computational grids. The six-equation, two-fluid model with the wall boiling model was used to model the boiling two-phase flows in the bundle. The computed void fractions compare well with the measured data at the measuring plane. In addition to the averaged void data, the CFD results give a very detailed picture of the flow and void distributions in the bundle and how they are affected by solid structures in the flow paths such as the spacer grids and mixing vanes.

Prediction of Boiling Water Reactor Assembly Void Distributions Using a Two-Phase Computational Fluid Dynamics Model

This paper presents recent results obtained as part of the on-going integral validation of an advanced Eulerian-Eulerian two-phase (E2P) computational fluid dynamics based boiling model that allows the detailed analysis of the two-phase flow and heat transfer phenomena in a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) fuel assembly. The code is being developed as a customized module built on the foundation of the commercial CFD-code STAR-CD which provides general two-phase flow modeling capabilities. Simulations of a prototypic BWR fuel assembly experiment have been completed as an initial assessment of the applicability of the E2P model to realistic BWR geometries and conditions. Initial validation has focused on comparison with measured sub-channel averaged data to enable the benchmarking of the accuracy of the E2P against the current predictive capabilities of the sub-channel methods. The paper will discuss the effects of modeling assumptions, assumed coefficient values and the computational mesh structure used to describe the fuel assembly geometry on the accuracy of the sub-channel averaged void fraction.© 2008 ASME

Analysis of Void Fraction Distribution and Departure from Nucleate Boiling in Single Subchannel and Bundle Geometries Using Subchannel, System, and Computational Fluid Dynamics Codes

In order to assess the accuracy and validity of subchannel, system, and computational fluid dynamics codes, the Paul Scherrer Institut has participated in the OECD/NRC PSBT benchmark with the thermal-hydraulic system code TRACE5.0 developed by US NRC, the subchannel code FLICA4 developed by CEA, and the computational fluid dynamic code STAR-CD developed by CD-adapco. The PSBT benchmark consists of a series of void distribution exercises and departure from nucleate boiling exercises. The results reveal that the prediction by the subchannel code FLICA4 agrees with the experimental data reasonably well in both steady-state and transient conditions. The analyses of single-subchannel experiments by means of the computational fluid dynamic code STAR-CD with the CD-adapco boiling model indicate that the prediction of the void fraction has no significant discrepancy from the experiments. The analyses with TRACE point out the necessity to perform additional assessment of the subcooled boiling model and bulk condensation model of TRACE.

Development and Validation of a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for the Simulation of Two-Phase Flow Phenomena in a Boiling Water Reactor Fuel Assembly

This paper presents the current status in the development and validation of an advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, CFD-BWR, which allows the detailed analysis of the two-phase flow and heat transfer phenomena in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) fuel assemblies under various operating conditions. The CFD-BWR model uses an Eulerian Two-Phase (E2P) approach, and is also referred to as the E2P modeling framework. It is being developed as a customized module built on the foundation of the commercial CFD-code STAR-CD which provides general two-phase flow modeling capabilities. The integral validation efforts have focused on the analysis of the NUPEC Full-Size Boiling Water Reactor Test (BFBT) within the framework of the OECD/NRC benchmark exercise. The paper reviews the two-phase models implemented in the CFD-BWR code, and emphasizes recently implemented models of inter-phase and coolant-cladding momentum and energy exchanges. Results of recent BFBT experiment simulations using these models are presented and the effects of the new models on the calculated void distribution are discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of future model development and validation plans.Copyright

Eulerian-Eulerian Large-Eddy Simulations in Bubble-Columns

In this paper the Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model implemented in STAR-CCM+ is used to predict the turbulent mixing of a bubble-column flow. Calculations are performed using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS) and typical two-point turbulence closure models, as well as by means of large-eddy filtering techniques (LES), based on the Smalgorinsky subgrid-scale method (SGS). The bubble and fluid phases are coupled by integrating momentum exchange terms due to drag, lift and virtual-mass forces, while turbulent dispersion effects are also accounted. Validation of the multiphase Eulerian model is performed against available Laser Doppler Anemometry measurements (LDA), reported in the experimental work of Deen et al. (Chem Eng Sci 56: 6341–6349, 2001 [1]).

Computational Modeling of Blood Hydrodynamics and Blockage Formation Phenomena in the Human Cardiovascular System

An international collaborative effort to develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the human cardiovascular system (HCVS) has been initiated in 2008. The HCVS model is designed to describe (a) the blood flow hydrodynamics and associated heat transport phenomena, (b) the blood flow interactions with the essential organs, and (c) the vessel blockage formation associated with atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The CFD-HCVS model is being developed as a new specialized software module using as a foundation the CFD code, STAR-CD , that is developed and distributed by CD-adapco, Ltd., a member of the project team. The CFD-HCVS module includes the following components and capabilities. (1) A simplified 3D coarse mesh CFD model of the HCVS, which allows the simulation of hemodynamic transient phenomena. The circulatory system model is closed with porous-media flow components having a hydraulic resistance equivalent to the lumped flow resistance of the smaller vessels, including microcirculation. Both hydrodynamic and thermodynamic phenomena are described, allowing the study of blood flow transients in the presence of temperature changes. (2) Simplified zero-dimensional models of the essential organs (e.g., heart, kidneys, brain, liver, etc.) describing the time-dependent consumption or production of various blood components of interest. The organ models exchange information with the CFD system model through interfaces designed to allow their replacement, in the future, with more complex 3D organ models. (3) Selected sections of the circulatory system can be replaced by realistic 3 fine mesh vessel models allowing the detailed study of the 3D blood flow field and the vascular geometry changes due to blockage formation. (4) Models of local blockage formation due to atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Three HCVS models of increasing complexity have been designed. These models contain 27 vessels, 113 vessels, and 395 vessels. The initial CFD-HCVS model development is based on the medium HCVS model with 113 vessels. A closed circuit CFD model describing the major vessels and containing 0D models of the heart and kidneys has been developed. The CFD-HCVS model includes porous-media models describing the blood flow in the smaller vessels and capillaries. Initial simulations show that the calculated blood flow rates in the vessels modeled are in reasonably good agreement with the corresponding physiological values. A simplified model of thrombosis has also been developed. Current development efforts are focused on the addition of new vessels and 0D organ models and the development of atherosclerosis models. The HCVS model provides a flexible and expandable modeling framework that will allow the researchers from universities, research hospitals and the medical industry to study the impact of a wide range of phenomena associated with diseases of the circulatory system and will help them develop new diagnostics and treatments.