BK1-17 Improvements to HTRI 1D Kettle Circulation Model
This report discusses bundle pressure drop and recirculation flow rate measurements. Comparing HTRI data trends to the bundle flow rate measurements from the literature, we developed an improved circulation model for kettle reboilers. The improved model predicts a higher recirculation, especially at a high vapor generation, which also improves the thermal predictions of HTRI kettle reboiler data. For heat transfer, the two-mechanism boiling model works well with the improved circulation model because the converged bundle flow rate links directly to the calculation of the convective boiling heat transfer coefficient. This improved circulation model predicts a correct trend with vapor generation and is applicable to bundle length incremental calculations with significant duty variation.