Design and Construction of a Two-Dimensional Sensor Array and Development of a Coarse-Grid CFD Model

The subproject of the Institute of Fluid Dynamics at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf is divided in two parts. In the first part a two-dimensional sensor array is specially designed and constructed for the application in the large-scale facility of TUM in order to characterize the two-phase flow on the test trays. The custom-made sensor array allows for measuring a three-dimensional distribution of the temporally averaged phase fractions above the tray as well as the average liquid velocity by additionally using a tracer solution.

© Vineet Vishwakarma , HZDR

In the second part a coarse-grid CFD approach is developed, which enables investigating the influences of valve type, valve number and valve arrangement on the macroscopic flow structures by numerical simulations. The individual valves will be modeled by point-like mass and momentum sources. For validation purposes experiments are carried out with a lab-scale test rig that allows for detailed investigations of single valves and valve groups under pre-defined operating conditions. These investigations will make use of sophisticated in-house measurement techniques in order to gain detailed information on flow fields and patterns. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the CFD model for simulating the two-phase flow in industrial-scale units, simulations of the TUM facility will be compared with related experimental data.

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