Numerical and experimental estimation of void fraction of supersonic steam jet in sub-cooled water: a comparative study

Gas-liquid two-phase flows occur in a range of chemical, process, petroleum, metallurgical and power industries. Void fraction is a principal parameter. An effort has been made here to perform a comparative study in which the approximate void fraction of the supersonic steam jet into the sub-cooled water has been measured both numerically as well as experimentally. On a numerical basis, Direct Contact Condensation (DCC) model and on an experimental basis, Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) has been used for computing the void fraction. On an experimental basis, the over-estimation is nearly 45% when the surrounding water temperature is 30 degrees C with a steam inlet pressure of 1.5 bars and the over-estimation goes up to 83% at 60 degrees C and 3.0 bars. The void fraction computed by the use of the DCC model at 1.5 bars and 300C is 17.66% whereas the computed void fraction at 3.0 bars of inlet pressure and 600C of water temperature is 31.1%.