Analysis of Friction Factor of Two-Phase Flow in Helically Coiled Tubes

Abstract With compact structure and enhanced heat transfer capacity, helical-coiled once through steam generators (HTSGs) are widely used in the small modular reactors (SMRs). Nevertheless, the inside centrifugal forces make the flow more complicated, and increase the frictional pressure drop, which is closely related to the dual test of alternating thermal stress and flow instability. Therefore, the analysis of the friction factor in helically coiled tubes is significant to the efficient and safe operation of HTSGs. While the friction factor of single-phase flow in helically coiled tubes was fully studied and extensive correlations have been validated by a large amount of experimental data, the friction factor of two-phase flow still lacks feasible prediction due to its much more complexity. The existed correlations of two-phase flow in helically coiled tubes are mostly based on specified experimental parameters, so the applicable range is limited. Few scholars have tried to extend these correlations to broader applicability, but the trivial applicable range is unsuitable for program development or engineering design, which needs an accurate prediction of friction factor in a wider range. In this paper, existing frictional pressure drop correlations are investigated. The accuracy of single-phase frictional pressure drop correlations is verified through the comparison of calculation results. Since the known experimental data cannot cover a wide range of parameters, two assumptions are proposed, and the rationality is verified through the existing experimental data and calculation analysis. Based on the two assumptions and calculation, a set of calculation correlations for frictional pressure drop of two-phase flow in helically coiled tubes are proposed. The accuracy of this calculation model is validated by experimental data. The scope of application of this model is: D / d = 15–100, P = 0.12–6.3MPa, G = 200–1500kg / m2s, which is sufficient to support the design and operation of steam generators and the development of the simulation programs.