Acoustic wave prediction in flowing steam-water two-phase mixture.

The transient two-fluid model has been used to develop a general relation for acoustic waves. The analysis is valid in principle over the whole void fraction region. Flow pattern transitions from one flow regime to the other are assumed to occur at certain void fractions. Different correlations are used to calculate the interfacial area and interfacial drag force per unit mixture volume for bubbly flow, slug flow and annular flow respectively. The vapour-liquid interphase heat flux is derived from the one dimensional Fourier heat conduction equation to evaluate the interphase evaporation or condensation rate. Based on the present theory, a program has been carried out. Calculations are performed for pressure from 0.07 MPa to 16.0 MPa, void fractions from 0.0 to 1.0. The predicted sound speeds are compared with some experimental data for low pressures, good agreement has been achieved between sound speed predictions and experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]