Flow distributor for two-phase flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Achieving uniform two-phase flow through heat exchanger channels is challenging due to gravity-induced non-uniform distribution, leading to reduced system performance, increased size, and complexity, which complicates the heat exchanger design.
Innovation Solution
A fluid distributor with a nozzle section having a converging, throat, and diverging portion, and multiple flow distribution passages with dispersed inlets and plenums, ensuring uniform two-phase flow distribution across heat exchange passages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two-phase flow is used in heat exchanger channels, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but flow distribution uniformity deteriorates due to gravity-induced phase separation
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is divided into multiple functional sections: a nozzle section with converging-diverging geometry for initial flow conditioning, multiple flow distribution passages for parallel flow paths, and plenums for flow mixing. This segmentation allows each section to address specific aspects of flow distribution, collectively achieving uniform two-phase flow distribution across all channels despite gravitational effects
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle section employs converging-diverging geometry to change flow parameters (velocity, pressure) of the two-phase mixture. By optimizing the contour of the converging and diverging portions, the system transforms the incoming non-uniform two-phase flow into a more uniform distribution at the outlet, counteracting gravity-induced phase separation
2Area of stationary object
If heat exchanger channels are stacked vertically to increase heat transfer area, then heat exchange capacity is improved, but flow distribution uniformity deteriorates due to gravity causing liquid to accumulate in lower channels
Solution Approach 1:
The flow distribution passages are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration with inlets dispersed across a passage inlet surface. Multiple passages connect different plenums to various outlet locations, creating a multi-dimensional flow path network that distributes two-phase flow uniformly across vertically stacked channels, counteracting gravity's preferential routing of liquid to lower channels
3Device complexity
If non-uniform two-phase flow is accepted, then system complexity is reduced, but system performance deteriorates leading to increased size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flow distribution passages and plenums are merged into an integrated distributor assembly. The converging-diverging nozzle section is combined with the flow distribution passages and plenums to form a single unified component that can be manufactured via additive manufacturing. This merging achieves uniform flow distribution without requiring multiple separate complex components, thereby improving performance while controlling overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures uniform distribution of two-phase flow, enhancing heat exchanger performance by maintaining consistent liquid and gas proportions and flow rates across all channels, thereby reducing system size and complexity while improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the nozzle section may include a converging portion, a throat portion downstream of the converging portion and a diverging portion downstream of the throat portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid distributor (18) for a two-phase fluid flow system includes a distributor housing (50), a distributor inlet (20) at the distributor housing (50) to admit a two-phase fluid flow to the fluid distributor (18), a nozzle section through which the two-phase fluid flow is directed, a plurality of flow distribution passages located downstream of the nozzle section, and a plurality of passage outlets (22) in the distributor housing (18). Each passage outlet (22) of the plurality of passage outlets (22) is coupled to one or more flow distribution passages. The plurality of flow distribution passages are configured and arrayed such that the two-phase flow through the plurality of passage outlets (22) is uniform.