Stability analysis of closed-loop super-critical pressure systems

Abstract

The current study investigates the mechanisms governing flow induced stability of super-critical pressure fluid systems. Super-critical pressure fluid systems have been investigated as a mechanism for heat extraction from power systems for over a century. There are numerous benefits to these systems, but also potential pitfalls which must be examined. While super-critical pressure systems do not undergo phase change, they may be subject to the same flow induced instabilities which affect and limit two-phase systems. The objective of the current study is to develop a modeling and analysis framework to evaluate and understand flow-induced instabilities in super-critical pressure systems. The developed framework is used to evaluate experimental systems which have been constructed and tested by other investigators. The developed model shows good comparison with both the steady state and transient results published by other researchers. The model has been used to predict instabilities in experimental systems, as well as to show how some systems are more susceptible to instability than others. Stability maps have been constructed in a similar manner to those published for single heated flow path analysis.