Nuclear Science and Techniques

Abstract:

Based on the experiment of onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) in natural circulation and the nonequilibrium thermodynamics dissipative theory, the mechanism of ONB in narrow rectangle channels of natural circulation is proposed. It points out that the onset of nucleate boiling is influenced by the degree of superheat and the special conditions of narrow channels. Under the conditions of both density difference in natural circulation and narrow rectangle channels, the prediction model of ONB in natural circulation of narrow channels based on fluctuating is established. The experimental results show that the present model can be used to predict the heat flux of ONB in narrow rectangle channels. Features of ONB in natural circulation narrow rectangle channels are as follows: heating power is the incentive of the happen of ONB; the higher the heating power is, the higher the degree of superheat is, and the earlier the ONB will appear. With the pressurizing, the appearance of ONB will be delayed. The higher the degree of supercooling is, the later the ONB appears. The ONB will happen easier when there are noncondensable gases and roughness in the channels.

Key words: Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, Natural circulation, Onset of nucleate boiling (ONB), Dissipative structure, Degree of superheat