TITLE:
Three Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Two Phase Flow Separation Using Swirling Fluidics
AUTHORS:
M. M. Rahman, Nobuatsu Tanaka, S. Yokobori, S. Hirai
KEYWORDS:
Two Phase Flow; Separation; Nuclear Power Plants; Swirling; CFD
JOURNAL NAME:
Energy and Power Engineering,
Vol.5 No.4,
June
19,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Vapor-water two phase flow separation in pressure vessel of nuclear power plants is accomplished with swirl motion using vanes. In order to reduce separation pressure loss and to make it economic, a new type of low cost simplified innovative separator using lattice core configuration is proposed where swirling is caused by the orthogonal driving flow. The performance of the separator has been assessed numerically with the commercial CFD code FLUENT 14.0. The numerical analysis is compared with the experiment. The geometry and flow conditions are chosen according to the experiment. In the analysis, standard k – e and realizable k – e turbulence models are implemented. The prediction of maximum air void fraction with realizable k – e model was almost the same as input air void fraction but the void fraction computed by standard k – e model was compared better with the experimental results than the realizable k – e model. Some discrepancies in flow pattern between the experimental and simulation results are observed which might be due to the difference of nozzle shape. However, a more detailed model is necessary to arrive at the final conclusion.