Using entropy balance to determine multiphase flow distribution in thermally decoupled parallel channels with shared inlet and outlet headers

Abstract

Multiphase flow with boiling in parallel channels is often an efficient approach to managing heat and energy distribution in several engineering systems. However, two-phase flow with heating in parallel channels is prone to maldistribution, which can result in sub-optimal performance and, in some cases, permanent damage to the system. This challenge requires accurate flow modeling in parallel channels to mitigate or design against the adverse effect of two-phase flow maldistribution. The nonlinear nature of the multiphase flow model can yield multiple solutions for the same operating condition, creating significant challenges in predicting flow distribution. This study addresses this challenge by applying the entropy balance analysis and the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy to predict two-phase flow distribution in two thermally isolated parallel channels with a numerical model. Our model predictions and experiments show that equally distributed flow can become severely maldistributed with a decrease in flow rate, accompanied by a significant (>30%) change in the entropy generation rate. We show that the entropy balance analysis can distinguish between stable and unstable flows and identify the most feasible flow distribution in thermally decoupled parallel channels.