Photographic Study on Two-Phase Flow Patterns of Water in a Single-Side Heated Narrow Rectangular Channel

Abstract

Visualized experimental observation on flow patterns during flow boiling of water under single-side heated and fluid-inlet subcooled conditions in a vertical narrow rectangular channel with the cross section of 40×3 mm2 have been carried out. Four discernible flow patterns, which names dispersed bubbly, coalesced bubbly, churn flow, and annular flow are observed. Flow visualization in two dimensions of two-phase flow patterns for narrow rectangular channel, which provided clearer evidence to distinguish flow patterns, have been performed. Based on the experimental results, a flow pattern map for single-side heated narrow rectangular channel has been developed and then compared with the exiting maps and flow transition criteria.