CFD modelling of subcooled boiling

Heat transfer and boiling are key phenomena for power generation facilities. Whereas for 1D thermalhydraulic system codes modeling of boiling was state aof the art from the beginning of their development, the 3D modelling of boiling has not yet reached this maturity. In the paper the boiling model implemented in the CFD-code CFX-4 was applied, to analyse lots of experiments, their results were published in the literature. The validity of the implemented correlations is examined. In many cases the model yields a good agreement to experiments. Especially in the low pressure region, the steam volume fraction is calculated too low. The used models are critical reviewed and compared to alternative solutions. The sensitivity of the calculated results on different influences are compared. Needs for improvements of the model and for further experiments are derived. Main attention should be focused on measuring and modelling of the correct size of the generated steam bubbles.