Two Phase CFD Simulations in Stagnant Water Pools: Unsteady Temperature and Level Variation

Abstract

In the present work, CFD simulations of transient temperature increase in a pool of water due to indirect contact heating in the middle of the pool has been presented. CFD simulations have been able to mimic the transient phenomena of increase in temperature throughout the pool eventually leading to evaporation of water at the top surface and decrease in the level of the pool due to thermal stratification after several hours of operation. The CFD model is first validated with experimental temperature and water vapour volume fraction profiles at a particular level of the pool from the literature. Predictions show good agreement of less than 10% variation is observed. Spatial temperature profiles for different times are analysed to understand the pool boiling in such pools. The profiles indicate thermal stratification after 10000 seconds. Further, analysis transient variation of stratification parameter confirms the strong thermal stratification after 10000 seconds. The evaporation rate after 10000 seconds from top surface have been measured and compared with empirical models from liter