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Research Papers

# Numerical Simulation of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Critical Flow in the Nozzle TubeOPEN ACCESS

[+] Author and Article Information
Zhou Yuan

College of Physical Science and Technology,
Sichuan University,
Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
e-mail: zhouyuan1911@126.com

Wang Yangle

College of Physical Science and Technology,
Sichuan University,
Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
e-mail: 214927822@qq.com

Chen Jingtan

College of Physical Science and Technology,
Sichuan University,
Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
e-mail: 7424739538@qq.com

Xia Zhaoyang

College of Physical Science and Technology,
Sichuan University,
Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
e-mail: 624614923@qq.com

Wang Junfeng

Nuclear Power Institute of China,
Chang Shun Road 1 No. 328,
Shuang Liu District,
Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
e-mail: Walojef@163.com

Manuscript received April 20, 2017; final manuscript received August 15, 2017; published online December 4, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Thomas Schulenberg.

ASME J of Nuclear Rad Sci 4(1), 011018 (Dec 04, 2017) (5 pages) Paper No: NERS-17-1034; doi: 10.1115/1.4037896 History: Received April 20, 2017; Revised August 15, 2017

## Abstract

The supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton gas turbine cycle has been studied as an efficient and cost-effective option for advanced power systems. One major safety issue for any power cycle is a pipe break and the associated discharge of the working fluid and subsequent decrease in system pressure. In this paper, an S-CO2 critical flow in the nozzle tube is analyzed numerically with fluent 15.0. The Redlich–Kwong real gas equation is selected to calculate carbon dioxide density and the standard k-epsilon turbulence model is selected. Experimental data are used as a benchmark to examine the capability of the current approach. Compared with experimental data, the simulation results overestimate the critical mass flux; the error range is between 15% and 25%. The simulation results show that as L/D increases, critical mass flow decreases. As stagnation temperature increases, critical mass flow decreases. The complex thermal hydraulic behavior in the nozzle tubes is analyzed. Three flow patterns in the nozzle tube during transient critical flow are obtained and discussed. From inlet to outlet of the tube, CO2 may undergo the following phases in turn: (1) supercritical phase; (2) supercritical phase—gas phase; (3) supercritical phase—gas phase—liquid phase. The simulation results are also helpful for further experimental and theoretical research.

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## Introduction

Supercritical fluids are characterized by a temperature and pressure higher than the critical state properties of these respective fluids. The supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton gas turbine cycle has been considered as an alternative fluid and has been used in numerous power cycle designs to increase the power density by reduction of system component sizes and increased thermal efficiency due to the higher operating temperature [13].

The coolant critical flow is treated as an important issue for nuclear reactor systems. In recent decades, numerous critical flow studies have been conducted for water under both two-phase and subcooled condition [2,48]. Supercritical carbon dioxide critical flow data about blowdown or rapid depressurization are favorable for certain aspects of safety analyses. However, experiments and theories for S-CO2 are still insufficient. Mignot et al. [9] accomplished an experiment to measure critical mass flux of a long L/D tube in numerous stagnation thermodynamic conditions, geometry, and outlet tube roughness. The one-dimensional homogeneous equilibrium model was developed to predict critical flow. Edlebeck et al. [10] conducted an S-CO2 flow test loop and measured supercritical and two phase CO2 flow rate through short orifices. Orifices with diameters of 1 mm and orifice length-to-diameter ratios of 3.2 and 5 were tested. Now, some experiments are carried out to characterize S-CO2 critical flow behavior; however, the analysis of the critical flow with computational fluid dynamics code is still required.

The critical flow in the nozzle tube is analyzed numerically with fluent 15.0. A mesh quality study is conducted for choosing the optimum meshing strategy. Experimental data [810] are used as a benchmark to examine the capability of the current approach. In addition, the effects of L/D and stagnation temperature (the temperature at which the fluid flow rate is zero) on critical mass flow are investigated. Also, the flow patterns inside the tube during critical flow are discussed based on simulation results.

## Numerical Methods

###### Initial Parameters.

Experimental data of Mignot et al. are used as a benchmark to examine the capability of the current approach. The test section can be divided into three parts, i.e., inlet part, tube part, and outlet part. Four test sections are analyzed. A two-dimensional, axisymmetric model is adopted in the calculation, as shown in Fig. 1. The geometrical size of the test sections is shown in Table 1. Pressure and temperature are given at the inlet boundary, and the pressure is given at the outlet boundary. The pressures and temperatures at the boundaries are set as the constant values shown in Table 2. The pressure at the outlet is set as 0.1 MPa. The transient flow field is calculated until a steady-state flow is observed.

## Numerical Model

For the computational fluid dynamics analysis, fluent ver.15.0 is used. The fluid is set as CO2. The basic equations are the continuity equation, momentum equation, and energy equation. Because CO2 in the nozzle is at high Reynolds number, the standard k-epsilon model and standard wall functions are selected to calculate turbulence. The pressure implicit with splitting of operators scheme is used as the flow solution method. The spatial gradient terms are discretized by the least-squares cell-based method. The pressure interpolation scheme is a second-order scheme. The convection terms of momentum and energy equations are discretized by the quadratic upwind interpolation for convective kinematics method for the higher accuracy calculation, and the convection terms of the other equations are discretized by the first-order upwind scheme. The simulation was iterated about 100,000 times to converge.

To get more accurate density of CO2, the Redlich–Kwong (R–K) (Eq. (1)) real gas model [11] is selected Display Formula

(1)$P=RTVm−b−aT12Vm(Vm+b)$
Display Formula
(2)$a=0.427 8 R2Tc52Pc$
Display Formula
(3)$b=0.086 7RTcPc$

The Error1 is the deviation between R–K real gas density and actual gas density. The Error2 is the deviation between ideal gas density and actual density. By Eqs. (1)(3), density is calculated, comparing their actual density with the density of the R–K real gas model. Table 3 shows the errors are less than 3.5%, confirming the R–K real gas model.

###### Grid Size Sensitivity Analysis.

At first, results of a convergence study are presented to ensure the adequacy of the grid resolution. The test section no. 1 is selected for analysis. Five grid resolutions, 330, 925, 3700, 14,800, 59,200, are considered. A uniform structured grid strategy is used.

The stagnation pressure and temperature are set as 19.2 MPa, 263.7 °C. The outlet pressure is 0.1 MPa. The simulation results of different grid conditions are shown and compared with experiment result in Table 4.

Table 4 shows that the error decreases as the number of cells increases. As an optimum in computational time and error, a grid with 14,800 cells is used for the present calculation. The grid size is 0.32 mm × 0.32 mm.

## Simulation Results and Discussion

The length-to-diameter ratio and inlet stagnation parameters are the main parameters affecting the critical flow. The simulation results of critical flow under different draw ratio and stagnation parameter conditions are shown in Table 5.

Table 5 shows that the error between simulation and experiment is less than 20%. Compared with experiments, the simulation result overestimates the critical mass flow rate. Figure 2 shows simulation and experimental results for the critical flow rate. As the length-to-diameter ratio increases, the mass flow rate decreases. For short test sections (L/D < 20), the critical mass flow rate decreases quickly with increasing length-to-diameter ratio. For long test sections (L/D > 20), the critical mass flow rate decreases slightly with increasing length-to-diameter ratio. The trend of simulation results of the length-to-diameter ratio effects agrees with the experimental data.

Some errors between experimental data and the simulation still exist, because of drastic parameter changes at inlet and outlet of the nozzle. The difference between the R–K real gas model and actual parameters also brings some errors to the results.

Table 6 shows the effect of stagnation temperature on critical flow when the L/D is 48.

Table 6 shows that the error between simulation and experiment is less than 25%. Compared with experiments, the simulation result overestimates the critical mass flow rate again. Figure 3 shows effect of stagnation temperature on critical flow rate when the stagnation pressure is 10.1 MPa and the L/D is 48. As stagnation temperature increases, the mass flow rate decreases. The predicted trend of the stagnation temperature effects agree with the experimental data. When the stagnation temperature increases, the fluid density decreases, which lead to less mass flow rate.

## Discussion

When the fluid flow enters the nozzle, there will be a flow area reduction at the inlet. The smallest cross section of the flow area is known as the “throat.” It results in an increase in the flow velocity and the velocity reaches a maximum in the throat.

In order to reveal the critical flow mechanism, the pressure and temperature distribution of case 9 is shown in Fig. 4 in detail.

At inlet, when the fluid is flowing through the tube, the pressure and temperature decrease quickly because of contraction and expansion. After tube inlet contraction, pressure and temperature increase a little due to flow area increase and velocity decreases lightly due to friction pressure losses.

For heat transfer, when critical flow happens, the velocity of CO2 reaches local sonic speed in the nozzle. There is little time for heat transfer because of high speed. So, the temperature of the flow in the tube decreases slowly, as is shown in Fig. 4.

Case 4, case 9, and case 12 are selected for flow pattern behavior in this paper. The values of pressure and temperature along the central line of test section are presented in Fig. 5.

Three flow patterns in the nozzle tube during transient critical flow are obtained. From inlet to outlet of the tube, CO2 may undergo follow phases in turn: (1) supercritical phase; (2) supercritical phase—gas phase; (3) supercritical phase—gas phase—liquid phase.

Results of case 9 and case 12 show that as the stagnation temperature decreases, the P-T path line is closer to the critical point and to the pseudocritical line. The simulation results of three cases show that, at outlet of the test section, CO2 can be in liquid state and solid state due to low pressure and temperature. The temperature contour of case 9 is shown in Fig. 6. The temperature in the outlet of the test section changes dramatically. The flow behavior at the outlet of the test section in the experiment is shown in Fig. 4. The simulation result shows similar phenomena as the experiment (Fig. 7).

## Conclusion

The critical flow in the nozzle tube is analyzed numerically based on fluent 15.0. Compared with experimental data, the simulation results overestimate the critical mass flow rate, and the error range is between 15% and 25%.

The simulation results show that, as L/D ratio increases, critical mass flow decreases. As the stagnation temperature increases, the critical mass flow decreases. Three flow patterns in the nozzle tube during transient critical flow are obtained and discussed. From inlet to outlet of the tube, CO2 may undergo the following phases in turn: (1) supercritical phase; (2) supercritical phase—gas phase; (3) supercritical phase—gas phase—liquid phase.

## Acknowledgements

This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51506134 and 11605193).

## Nomenclature

• a =

attractive potential among molecules, Pa m6 mol−2

• b =

the R–K equation correction parameter introduced by the intrinsic volume of the molecule, m3/mol

• L/D =

length-to-diameter ratio

• P =

upstream pressure, Pa

• PC =

critical pressure, Pa

• R =

molar gas constant, 8.31451 J/mol K

• T =

upstream temperature, K

• Tc =

critical temperature, K

• Vm =

molar volume, m3/mol

## References

Yu, S.-C. , Chen, L. , Zhao, Y. , Li, H.-X. , and Zhang, X.-R. , 2015, “ A Brief Review Study of Various Thermodynamic Cycles for High Temperature Power Generation Systems,” Energy Convers. Manage., 94, pp. 68–83.
Huang, Y. P. , and Wang, J. F. , 2012, “ Application of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide in Nuclear Reactor System,” Nucl. Power Eng., 33(33), pp. 21–27.
Ahn, Y. , Bae, S. J. , Kim, M. , Cho, S. K. , Baik, S. , Lee, J. , and Cha, J. E. , 2015, “ Review of Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle Technology and Current Status of Research and Development,” Nucl. Eng. Technol., 47(6), pp. 647–661.
Xu, J. L. , Chen, T. K. , Chen, X. J. , and Song, J. Y. , 1995, “ Two-Phase Critical Flow,” Adv. Mech., 25(1), pp. 77–84.
Chen, T. K. , Xu, J. L. , and Luo, Y. S. , 2002, “ Experimental Study of Two Phase Critical Flow,” J. Eng. Thermophys., 23(5), pp. 622–626.
Hang, L. Q. , 1982, “ Two Phase Critical Flow,” Nucl. Power Eng., 3(2), pp. 36–41.
Su, G. H. , Jiang, Z. J. , and Jia, D. N. , 1996, “ A Theoretic Study of Critical Flow Through Straight-Edged Tube,” At. Energy Sci. Technol., 30(4), pp. 346–350.
Ishigaki, M. , Watanabe, T. , and Nakamura, H. , 2012, “ Numerical Simulation of Two-Phase Critical Flow With the Phase Change in the Nozzle Tube,” Int. J. Energy Syst., 6(2), pp. 264–274.
Mignot, G. , Anderson, M. , and Corradini, M. , 2009, “ Measurement of Supercritical CO2 Critical Flow: Effect of L/D and Surface Roughness,” Nucl. Eng. Des., 239(5), pp. 949–955.
Edlebeck, J. , Nellis, G. F. , Klein, S. A. , Anderson, M. H. , and Wolf, M. , 2014, “ Measurements of the Flow of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Through Short Orifices,” J. Supercrit. Fluids, 88, pp. 17–25.
Zhao, R. , and Wang, K. , 2007, “ Study of the Reversal Temperature of Redlich-Kwong's Real Gas,” J. Xi'an Jiaotong Univ., 41(4), pp. 504–506.
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## References

Yu, S.-C. , Chen, L. , Zhao, Y. , Li, H.-X. , and Zhang, X.-R. , 2015, “ A Brief Review Study of Various Thermodynamic Cycles for High Temperature Power Generation Systems,” Energy Convers. Manage., 94, pp. 68–83.
Huang, Y. P. , and Wang, J. F. , 2012, “ Application of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide in Nuclear Reactor System,” Nucl. Power Eng., 33(33), pp. 21–27.
Ahn, Y. , Bae, S. J. , Kim, M. , Cho, S. K. , Baik, S. , Lee, J. , and Cha, J. E. , 2015, “ Review of Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle Technology and Current Status of Research and Development,” Nucl. Eng. Technol., 47(6), pp. 647–661.
Xu, J. L. , Chen, T. K. , Chen, X. J. , and Song, J. Y. , 1995, “ Two-Phase Critical Flow,” Adv. Mech., 25(1), pp. 77–84.
Chen, T. K. , Xu, J. L. , and Luo, Y. S. , 2002, “ Experimental Study of Two Phase Critical Flow,” J. Eng. Thermophys., 23(5), pp. 622–626.
Hang, L. Q. , 1982, “ Two Phase Critical Flow,” Nucl. Power Eng., 3(2), pp. 36–41.
Su, G. H. , Jiang, Z. J. , and Jia, D. N. , 1996, “ A Theoretic Study of Critical Flow Through Straight-Edged Tube,” At. Energy Sci. Technol., 30(4), pp. 346–350.
Ishigaki, M. , Watanabe, T. , and Nakamura, H. , 2012, “ Numerical Simulation of Two-Phase Critical Flow With the Phase Change in the Nozzle Tube,” Int. J. Energy Syst., 6(2), pp. 264–274.
Mignot, G. , Anderson, M. , and Corradini, M. , 2009, “ Measurement of Supercritical CO2 Critical Flow: Effect of L/D and Surface Roughness,” Nucl. Eng. Des., 239(5), pp. 949–955.
Edlebeck, J. , Nellis, G. F. , Klein, S. A. , Anderson, M. H. , and Wolf, M. , 2014, “ Measurements of the Flow of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Through Short Orifices,” J. Supercrit. Fluids, 88, pp. 17–25.
Zhao, R. , and Wang, K. , 2007, “ Study of the Reversal Temperature of Redlich-Kwong's Real Gas,” J. Xi'an Jiaotong Univ., 41(4), pp. 504–506.

## Figures

Fig. 1

Two-dimensional axisymmetric model of test section

Fig. 2

Effect of length-to-diameter ratio on critical flow rate

Fig. 3

Effect of stagnation temperature on critical flow rate

Fig. 4

Pressure and temperature distribution along test section central axis

Fig. 5

Flow pattern of CO2 during critical flow: (a) geometric structure and pressure diagrammatic drawing of test section and (b) flow pattern

Fig. 6

Density contour at outlet of test section

Fig. 7

Flow behavior at outlet of test section (experimental data) [9]

## Tables

Table 1 Geometrical size of test sections
Table 2 Stagnation parameters of different cases
Table 3 Stagnation parameter
Table 4 Critical mass flux for different grid resolutions
Table 5 Effect of L/D on critical flow rate
Table 6 Effect of stagnation temperature on critical flow rate (L/D = 48)

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