Onset of stable dryout condition in diabatic annular two-phase flow

Conditions for the formation of a stable dry patch in vertical diabatic annular two-phase flows are investigated. An analytical model of the force balance for the leading edge of the liquid film is developed. In addition to surface tension, evaporation thrust and capillary forces, the model includes the effect of turbulence, the pressure gradient and the interfacial shear stress. Numerical evaluations are performed to validate the model and to indicate the importance of various factors on the dry patch stability and on the resulting minimum wetting rate of the liquid film. The analyses indicate that good agreement with measurements is obtained in case of stagnant patch formed on liquid film flowing down a vertical surface. (author)