Modeling of vapor generation in flashing flow

A phenomenon of flashing related to discharging of an initially subcooled liquid from a high pressure condition into a low pressure environment is very important in several industrial systems such as nuclear reactors and chemical reactors. A new model for the flashing process is proposed here based on the wall nucleation theory, bubble growth model and drift-flux bubble transport model. In order to calculate the bubble number density, the bubble number transport equation with a distributed source from the wall nucleation sites is used. The model predictions in terms of the void fraction are compared to Reocreux's and BNL experimental data. It shows that satisfactory agreements could be obtained from the present model without any floating parameter to be adjusted with data. This result indicates that, at least for the experimental conditions cnsidered here, the mechanistic prediction of the flashing phenomenon is possible based on the present wall nucleation based model. 41 refs.