Bubble nucleation at subcooled flow boiling condition in a horizontal annular channel with a square cross section by the use of high-speed camera is investigated. The channel represents a scaled-down version of a single rod of CANDU reactor core. The experiments were performed by the use of water at pressures between 1-3 atm, constant heat flux of 0.124 MW/m2, liquid bulk subcooling of 32-1oC and mean flow velocities of 0.3-0.4 m/s. Bubble lift-off diameters were obtained from direct high speed videography. The developed model for the bubble lift-off diameter was obtained by analyzing the forces acting on a bubble. Furthermore, a model for the bubble growth rate constant was suggested. The proposed model was then compared to experimental data and it has shown a good agreement with the experimental data. Additionally, the effects of liquid bulk subcooling, liquid pressure and mean flow velocity on bubble lift-off diameter were investigated.

Bubble nucleation at subcooled flow boiling condition in a horizontal annular channel with a square cross section by the use of high-speed camera is investigated. The channel represents a scaled-down version of a single rod of CANDU reactor core. The experiments were performed by the use of water at pressures between 1-3 atm, constant heat flux of 0.124 MW/m2, liquid bulk subcooling of 32-1oC and mean flow velocities of 0.3-0.4 m/s. Bubble lift-off diameters were obtained from direct high speed videography. The developed model for the bubble lift-off diameter was obtained by analyzing the forces acting on a bubble. Furthermore, a model for the bubble growth rate constant was suggested. The proposed model was then compared to experimental data and it has shown a good agreement with the experimental data. Additionally, the effects of liquid bulk subcooling, liquid pressure and mean flow velocity on bubble lift-off diameter were investigated.