Development of a three-field mechanistic model for dryout prediction in annular flow.

• A three-field mechanistic model is developed for dryout prediction in annular flow. • The model is verified by experimental data of the circular and rectangular channel with relatively large parameter range. • Some key constitutive relations in the model are discussed for the better prediction. • The model is effective on prediction of dryout in the rod bundles by coupling with subchannel code. Critical heat flux (CHF) is one of the most important thermal criteria for nuclear power plants. It has traditionally been evaluated using look-up tables or empirical correlations. In this paper an annular film dryout (AFD) mechanistic model has been developed based on the interaction of three fields in annular flow region, i.e. the liquid film, entrained droplets and vapor core. The model describes the mass and momentum conservation equations of three fields together with a series of constitutive relations. The effect of some constitutive correlations (the entrainment and deposition of droplets and the onset of annular flow) on the prediction accuracy of the model is studied. The results are compared with CHF experimental data in flow boiling. Fairly good agreements are observed for the CHF in circular tubes with uniform and axially non-uniform heating, as well as rectangular channels with uniform heating. Through coupling with the subchannel analysis method, the model is used to predict the dryout-type CHF in the rod bundles with a good precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]