56415 - Thermohydraulics of Two-phase Flows (Graduate Course)

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Moduli: Ruben Scardovelli (Modulo 1) Sandro Manservisi (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LS) in Energy Engineering (cod. 0455)

Learning outcomes

This course  is  designed to give a rudimentary exposure to the thermo-fluid transport phenomena in two-phase systems, as well as guide the students to formulate and solve problems associated with the change-of-phase  phenomena such as boiling and condensation.
Furthermore the course is going to investigate  different numerical techniques and numerous industrial  applications of the two-phase transport theory. 

Course contents

Introduction: Review of fundamental thermodynamic principles. Coordinate systems. Basic mathematical operators. Transport equations: mass, momentum, energy.

Physics of interfaces: Interfacial region. Surface tension. Thermodynamics analysis of surface tension. The Navier-Stokes surface tension term. Wetting phenomena. Contact angle and boundary conditions. Interfaces. Transport boundary conditions for one-fluid one-velocity and two-velocity model. Stability of the interfaces. Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Rayleigh-Taylor instability.

Isothermal two-phase flow: Two-phase two-fluid model. Monodimensional two-fluid model. Mixed equations for the monodimensional two-fluid model. Two-phase regime maps for horizontal and vertical pipes. The homogeneous model. The heterogeneous model. Determination of the two-phase multipliers and void fraction. Martinelli-Nelson-Lockhart model. Boroczy model.

Physics of phase change: Metastable states, phase stability and spinodal curve. Homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. Bubble growth in a superheated liquid. Pool boiling: regimes, models and correlations. External condensation: dropwise and film condensation.

Non-isothermal two-phase flow: Convective boiling in tubes and different regimes. Subcooled and saturated boiling, critical heat flux conditions. Internal convective condensation and different regimes.

Readings/Bibliography

Liquid-vapor phase-change phenomena. V.P. Carey. Series in Chemical and Mechanical Engineering. H.P.C. (1992)

Instructor notes

Teaching methods

A few lectures and exercises will be supported with software demo.

Assessment methods

A written final exam followed by a discussion with the instructors

Teaching tools

Lectures and exercises are in part with PC. A few videos will be also shown.

Office hours

See the website of Ruben Scardovelli

See the website of Sandro Manservisi