Characteristics of horizontal two-phase helium flows - Part I - flow patterns and void fraction

The experimental set-up to investigate flow patterns, void fraction, pressure drop and transient heat transfer in horizontal two-phase helium flow moving in channels with round, annular and narrow rectangular cross-sections are presented. The parameters variations were as follows: mass velocity from 20 to 300 kg/m(2)/s, pressure from 0.12 to 0.18 MPa and quality from 0 to 1. Some typical features of the flows are pointed out and attempts are made to explain these features after a theoretical analysis. Comparison of own experimental data and well known data of other authors has shown that the proposed and developed models and methods are able to simulate satisfactorily the behavior of horizontal two-phase helium flows. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.