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Pressure drops and void fractions in horizontal two‐phase flows of potassium
Author(s) -
Smith Lowell R.,
Tek M. Rasin,
Balzhiser Richard E.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690120112
Subject(s) - pressure drop , potassium , chemistry , thermodynamics , sodium , void (composites) , boiling , mechanics , two phase flow , porosity , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , composite material , chromatography , flow (mathematics) , physics , organic chemistry
Vapor‐liquid flow of a potassium‐8% sodium mixture was studied with the use of a boiling heat transfer test loop. Pressure drop data were obtained from a 36‐in. long, 0.495‐in. I.D. unheated test section. Void fractions were measured at the midpoint of the test section with gamma ray attenuation. Flows were essentially frictional. Quality, total flow rate, and absolute pressure were the principal variables affecting the pressure drop results, which were correlated in terms of a two‐phase friction factor. A metallic void fraction correlation was developed from previously reported data for other metallic fluids together with the potassium data of this study. The potassium two phase friction factors fall substantially lower than values predicted by well‐known frictional pressure drop correlations. Metallic void friction values are appreciably lower than data for other fluid systems. Velocity slip ratios appear to be much higher than for other fluid systems due to high liquid‐to‐vapor density ratios and low void fractions.