Steady state behavior of boiling channels: a comprehensive analysis using singularity theory

In this paper we present a comprehensive and a complete picture of the stea dy state behavior of a boiling channel subject to a constant pressure drop. To achieve this we have used singularity theory. The inlet velocity to the channel is chosen as the state variable. Its dependence on the imposed pre ssure drop chosen as the bifurcation parameter is depicted as bifurcation d iagrams. The dependence of these diagrams on the values of the other parame ters that occur in the model is discussed in detail. All possible bifurcati on diagrams of the system are obtained and the parameter combinations that result in each kind of a diagram are identified. In this problem the Bounda ry Limit Set plays an important role. It generates a new critical surface i n parameter space across which the bifurcation behavior changes. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.