Considerations in the practical application of the multi-sensor conductivity probe for two-phase flow

M. Bernard, T. Worosz, S. Kim

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    3 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    This study investigates two issues in the practical application of the local conductivity probe for two-phase flow measurements. First, the effects of signal "ghosting," an electrical interference inherent to multiplexing data acquisition systems, on the measured two-phase flow parameters are examined. A revised conductivity probe circuit is proposed to remove the effects of ghosting. The characteristics of signal ghosting are investigated experimentally with a specialized conductivity probe that enables concurrent acquisition of ghosted and un-ghosted signals within the same flow condition. It is demonstrated that ghosting causes higher bubble velocity and, consequently, lower interfacial area concentration measurements that depend on sampling frequency and sensor impedance. The revised circuit successfully eliminates this variability. Second, the sensitivity of measured two-phase flow parameters to increasing data acquisition sampling frequency is investigated experimentally. Measurements are acquired at incrementally increasing sampling frequencies with a four-sensor conductivity probe in 13 vertical-upward airwater two-phase flow conditions with superficial liquid and gas velocities ranging from 1.00-5.00m/s and 0.17-2.0m/s, respectively. It is found that the void fraction and average bubble velocity are insensitive to the sampling frequency, while the detected number of bubbles and interfacial area concentration can demonstrate a strong dependence. Considerations for selecting appropriate sampling frequencies in different flow conditions are discussed.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Title of host publicationEmbedded Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics, ATH 2014, Held at the American Nuclear Society 2014 Annual Meeting
    PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
    Pages459-471
    Number of pages13
    ISBN (Electronic)9781632668509
    StatePublished - 2014
    EventEmbedded Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics, ATH 2014, Held at the American Nuclear Society 2014 Annual Meeting - Reno, United States
    Duration: Jun 15 2014Jun 19 2014

    Publication series

    NameEmbedded Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics, ATH 2014, Held at the American Nuclear Society 2014 Annual Meeting

    Other

    OtherEmbedded Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics, ATH 2014, Held at the American Nuclear Society 2014 Annual Meeting
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityReno
    Period6/15/146/19/14

    All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
    • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
    • Nuclear Energy and Engineering

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