Assessment of prediction models for dividing two-phase flow at small T-junctions

Abstract

The header/channels assembly of a compact heat exchanger can be simulated as an accumulation of small T-junctions. Previous researches showed that the dividing flow characteristics in the small T-junctions are different from those in large T-junctions. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the prediction models for a dividing two-phase annular flow in a small T-junction (less than 10 mm in hydraulic diameter) reported previously by comparing them with the experimental data. The model of Hwang et al. (1988) best fits the measured results. This is considered due to smaller difference between the dividing streamlines of gas and liquid at the junction with the smaller channel size, which is well represented by the curvature model of Hwang et al. (1988). ？ 2005 R.T. Edwards, Inc.