An Empirical Two-Fluid Model for Critical Flows

Abstract

The object of this paper is to propose an empirical critical flow model on based on the two-fluid results of to account for phase slip, thermal non-equilibrium and piping geometric effects. The main emphasis is on the derivation of the model which includes the major relevant physical phenomena, and it can be used to make predictions suitable for comparison with experimental data. The critical flow rate is formulated in a simple form: non-homogeneous and non-equilibrium factors time the homogeneous equilibrium critical flow rate.