Study on the two-phase critical flow through a small bottom break in a pressurized horizontal pipe

Two-phase critical flow rates through a small bottom break of a pressurized horizontal pipe are calculated by using an improved critical flow model with a well-known quality prediction model. This phenomenon has many difficulties in predicting the two-phase critical flow rate at the break points mainly due to the inaccuracies of the critical flow model as well as the quality prediction model. In this study, the critical flow model is improved as a first step that is based on a new sound speed criterion derived from the hyperbolic two-fluid model for non-equilibrium flow and this model is applied to a system analysis code. Following to a conceptual problem of the vertically upward flow with quality variation, the small bottom break of a pressurized horizontal pipe is simulated and discussed in some detail. From the test results without any adjustment like empirical discharge coefficient, the assessment results on the critical flow test through a small bottom break in a horizontal pipe show that just improving the critical flow model can remarkably reduce the relative error.