IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v347y2026ics0360544226004809.html

Prediction model for the initial dryout vapor quality in helically coiled tubes

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Ningyuan
  • Chen, Deqi
  • Liu, Hanzhou
  • Bu, Shanshan
  • Yu, Hongxing

Abstract

Dryout phenomena in helical-coileded steam generator tubes represent a critical limiting factor in thermal performance and operational safety. In this study, the initial dryout is examined through a combined experimental and theoretical approach, with particular focus on the influence of thermohydraulic parameters and vapor-liquid two-phase interactions on the critical vapor quality. Results indicate that dryout vapor quality is strongly correlated with the distribution of the annular liquid film, the intensity of secondary flows, and interfacial shear forces. Parametric sensitivity analyses reveal that increasing the inlet mass flux promotes liquid film redistribution under centrifugal effects and enhances secondary flow strength, thereby reducing the vapor quality at dryout. Conversely, higher pressure conditions suppress vapor expansion and void fraction, resulting in delayed dryout at elevated vapor qualities. The interfacial shear force, quantified using the slip ratio, exhibits a monotonic inverse relationship with dryout vapor quality, underscoring the role of secondary vapor flows in accelerating liquid film collapse. To further characterize the interaction between vapor-phase secondary motion and wall-adhering liquid films, a Centrifugal Punch Shear Interface (CPSI) analysis is proposed. Based on the analysis of interfacial interaction behavior, dimensionless parameters are introduced to quantify the effects of liquid film distribution, secondary flow patterns, and interfacial shear intensity on dryout. A predictive model for the critical vapor quality at initial dryout is developed based on these factors, achieving agreement with experimental data within a 15% deviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Ningyuan & Chen, Deqi & Liu, Hanzhou & Bu, Shanshan & Yu, Hongxing, 2026. "Prediction model for the initial dryout vapor quality in helically coiled tubes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:347:y:2026:i:c:s0360544226004809
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2026.140377
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544226004809
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2026.140377?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Parrales, Arianna & Colorado, Dario & Huicochea, Armando & Díaz, Juan & Alfredo Hernández, J., 2014. "Void fraction correlations analysis and their influence on heat transfer of helical double-pipe vertical evaporator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 156-165.
    2. Yu, Jiacheng & Liu, Kai & Wang, Xingjun & Wang, Mingjun & Zhang, Jing & Tian, Wenxi & Su, G.H., 2025. "Multi-dimensional coupling study of the thermal-hydraulic characteristics in a helical coil once-through steam generator under motion conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    3. Liu, Kai & Wang, Mingjun & Zhang, Jing & Guo, Kailun & Tian, Wenxi & Qiu, Suizheng & Su, G.H., 2023. "Numerical investigation on the thermal load heterogeneity of multi-assembly helical coil steam generator in high temperature gas-cooled reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    4. Yang, Kuang & Liao, Haifan & Xu, Bo & Chen, Qiuxiang & Hou, Zhenghui & Wang, Haijun, 2024. "Data-driven dryout prediction in helical-coiled once-through steam generator: A physics-informed approach leveraging the Buckingham Pi theorem," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    5. Mignacca, Benito & Locatelli, Giorgio & Sainati, Tristano, 2020. "Deeds not words: Barriers and remedies for Small Modular nuclear Reactors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alhadhrami, Saeed & Soto, Gabriel J & Lindley, Ben, 2023. "Dispatch analysis of flexible power operation with multi-unit small modular reactors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    2. Seyed Ali Hosseini & Reza Akbari & Amir Saeed Shirani & Francesco D’Auria, 2023. "Small Modular Reactors Licensing Process Based on BEPU Approach: Status and Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Nian, Victor & Mignacca, Benito & Locatelli, Giorgio, 2022. "Policies toward net-zero: Benchmarking the economic competitiveness of nuclear against wind and solar energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    4. Pablo Fernández-Arias & Diego Vergara & Álvaro Antón-Sancho, 2023. "Bibliometric Review and Technical Summary of PWR Small Modular Reactors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-15, July.
    5. Cantini, Alessandra & Leoni, Leonardo & Ferraro, Saverio & Carlo, Filippo De, 2025. "Centralized and decentralized supply chains: Performance maps for comparing the cost-effectiveness of distribution network configurations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    6. Wang, Mi & Liu, Jiegui & Bai, Yuxin & Zheng, Dandan & Fang, Lide, 2024. "Flow rate measurement of gas-liquid annular flow through a combined multimodal ultrasonic and differential pressure sensor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    7. Lindley, Ben & Roulstone, Tony & Locatelli, Giorgio & Rooney, Matt, 2023. "Can fusion energy be cost-competitive and commercially viable? An analysis of magnetically confined reactors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    8. Nian, Victor & Ghori, Amjad & Guerra, Eddie M. & Locatelli, Giorgio & Murphy, Paul, 2022. "Accelerating safe small modular reactor development in Southeast Asia," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    9. Invernizzi, Diletta Colette & Locatelli, Giorgio & Brookes, Naomi & Davis, Allison, 2020. "Qualitative comparative analysis as a method for project studies: The case of energy infrastructure," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    10. Wang Dongfang & Pablo Ponce & Zhang Yu & Katerine Ponce & Muhammad Tanveer, 2022. "The future of industry 4.0 and the circular economy in Chinese supply chain: In the Era of post-COVID-19 pandemic," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 342-356, June.
    11. Lazcano-Véliz, Y. & Hernández, J.A. & Juárez-Romero, D. & Bourouis, Mahmoud & Coronas, Alberto & Siqueiros, J., 2017. "Energy efficiency assessment in the generator of an absorption heat transformer from measurement falling film thickness on helical coils," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1274-1284.
    12. Yu, Jiacheng & Liu, Kai & Wang, Xingjun & Wang, Mingjun & Zhang, Jing & Tian, Wenxi & Su, G.H., 2025. "Multi-dimensional coupling study of the thermal-hydraulic characteristics in a helical coil once-through steam generator under motion conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    13. N, Gilmore & Burr, P.A. & Obbard, E. & Stockings, C. & Kruzic, J.J. & Seitenzahl, I. & Ata, S. & Maartensson, E. & Niven, R.K., 2025. "Discussing possible futures to neutralise nuclear energy discourse," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    14. Haneklaus, Nils & Qvist, Staffan & Gładysz, Paweł & Bartela, Łukasz, 2023. "Why coal-fired power plants should get nuclear-ready," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:347:y:2026:i:c:s0360544226004809. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.