Numerical simulation on coupling performance of steam flow field and electric field in capacitance sensor measuring steam wetness

Based on the theory of dielectric polarization and hydrodynamics, using the FLUENT UDF code, the coupling performances of the steam flow field and the electric field in the capacitance sensor were numerically simulated. The standard k-Ε model, wall function and SIMPLE way were used. The results show that the voltage decreases gradually from positive plate to negative plate, and the change is even; water molecule is polarized, the polarized charge appears near the plates, and there is no polarized charge in the center of sensor when the dry saturation steam flows through the capacitance sensor; the radial velocity is different from with and without electric field in the capacitance sensor, and the difference is max near the outmost plate; the electric field near the plate is smaller when there is no flow field. The results of numerical simulation match with the results of experiment. The numerical simulation model is feasibility.