CHF enhancement in flow boiling system with TSP and boric acid solutions under atmospheric pressure

In this study, the effects of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) and boric acid on CHF enhancement were studied. Both TSP and boric acid are used to control pH in nuclear power plants. TSP is a kind of surfactant, and several surfactants, include TSP, have been reported to have an effect on enhancement of heat transfer. Nothing has yet been reported for the case of boric acid. CHF experiments were performed with mass flux ranging from 100-500 kg/m2 s and inlet subcooling temperature of 50 oC under atmospheric pressure. The test section was a vertical circular SS316 tube having an inner diameter of 10.98 mm. Its heated length was 224 mm, and it was heated by a heat flux control system using DC electricity. Fluids in the test loop were plain water, TSP solutions, and boric acid solutions. TSP solutions had three concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6%), and boric acid solutions had four concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8%). In the case of TSP, 21.4% enhancement of CHF was observed at the inlet subcooling temperature of 50 oC and extremely low mass flux (100 kg/m2 s). In the case of boric acid, 12.4% enhancement of CHF was observed at inlet subcooling temperature of 50 oC and extremely low mass flux 100 kg/m2 s.