Flooding in a thin rectangular slit geometry representative of ATR fuel assembly side-plate flow channels

Air-water counter-current flow limit experiments were conducted in thin rectangular channels at atmospheric pressure. The parameters were: narrow channel width, either 1.1 mm or 2.2 mm; inlet water temperature, ranging from 294 K to 330 K; channel surface condition, either clean aluminum, aluminum oxide, or acrylic; location and geometry of the air inlet; method of forcing air through the channel; and liquid head above the channel. Experimental results for each set of parameters can be linearly correlated using the square root of the non-dimensional superficial velocities. Channel surface wetting and location and geometry of the air injection had the greatest effect. Narrow channel width, water temperature, method used to force air through the channel, and liquid head above the channel had little effect on the flooding characteristics. ((orig.))