Boiling instability predictions using an homogeneous two-phase model

Two-phase flow instabilities have plagued industry for years. Since these instabilities typically affect cooling operations, failure to adjust operating conditions could cause tube walls to overheat and blow-out. This thesis describes the use of a quasi one-dimensional homogeneous model to model two-phase flow. To model the flow, the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations (SIMPLE) algorithm was chosen. This is a semi-implicit method which uses a pressure correction method and it was created by Patankar. Experimental testing performed at Glenn Research Center was used to verify the code. REFPROP, from NIST, was used for real-fluid thermal properties related to methane. With a friction factor from Iwamura and Kaneshima, the code was accurately able to predict the velocity and pressure profiles for a variety of flow rates and flow regimes.