Two-Phase Damping in Vertical Pipe Flows: Effect of Void Fraction, Flow Rate and External Excitation

Predicting vibration effects in steam generators requires good knowledge of two-phase damping ζ_2φ. The purpose of this work is to correlate two-phase damping in axial flow with tube transversal excitation frequency and magnitude. The test section consists of a stiff square tube subjected to internal axial flow of air-water mixture. The hydraulic diameter is 3 inches. The tube is supported with linear bearings and fitted with flexible tubing on both ends to allow motion in the transverse direction. Compression springs allow setting the natural frequency of the tube oscillation. A motor provides transverse sinusoidal excitation to the tube assembly. ζ_2φ is determined from the frequency response function. As a result of this study, ζ_2φ is represented as a function of excitation frequency and amplitude, void fraction and flow rate. Specific information is gained through high frame rate videos of the oscillating tube, including bubble transverse velocity and size for low void fraction, and flow pattern transitions. Indeed, it is suspected that two-phase damping is partly caused by the work rate of virtual mass forces of the gas phase. Better knowledge of the physical process involved in two-phase damping will allow better modeling and prediction of tube behavior.