INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH

Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35

Published online 20 April 2009 in Wiley InterScience
(www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/er.1548

A thermal nonlinear dynamic model for water tube drum boilers

M. A. Habib1,,y, H. E. Emara-Shabaik2, I. Al-Zaharnah1, and T. Ayinde1

1
Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
2
System Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

SUMMARY

A thermal model for the prediction of possible tube overheating was developed. The model incorporates a nonlinear
state space dynamic model that captures the important physical interactions of the main variables of steam generation
in naturally circulated water tube drum boilers. This paper provides an investigation of the dynamic effects of rapid rise
in fuel flow rate (heat input) on the thermal and flow characteristics of the riser tubes in natural circulation water tube
boilers. The system under consideration includes the drum, riser and downcomer as its major components. The dynamic
response of the system’s state variables due to rapid rises in fuel flow rates was investigated.
The results show that the sudden rise in the firing rate is followed by an increase in the steam quality, which is
accompanied by a decrease in the circulation rate as a result of increase in the pressure. The riser temperature increases
slightly above the saturation temperature due to the increase in the steam temperature and due to the dynamic influence
resulting from sudden increase in the heat flux. The present calculations of the water level in the drum provide good
comparison with those in the literature. Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

KEY WORDS: water tube boilers; thermal models; dynamic model

1. INTRODUCTION downcomer circuits and the steam/water mixture

Rapid increase in the fuel flow rate causes
increased rates of evaporation and thus causes
high increase in the quality that causes tube
overheating. The problem impact is not only due
to the cost of replacing defective parts but also
due to the frequent need of system shutdown and
the possible imminent safety hazards. The motive
force driving the steam/water mixture through
the tubes in a natural circulation system is the
difference in density between cooler water in the
in the riser tubes. This flow must be adequate to
cool the tubes and prevent overheating. Normally,
overheating of riser tubes are due to one of two
reasons. The first occurs under steady-state condi-
tions when the tubes are partially blocked such
that the pressure losses increase. As a result the
mass flow rate of water decreases at the same heat
flux causing less heat transfer to the water and
consequent overheating of the tube metal. The
second cause occurs when sudden rise in the heat
flux occurs and is followed by an increase in the

*Correspondence to: M. A. Habib, Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran
31261, Saudi Arabia.
y
E-mail: mahabib@kfupm.edu.sa

Received 8 November 2008

Revised 23 February 2009
Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Accepted 7 March 2009
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL
steam quality. As a result, circulation decreases as
a result of increase in the pressure. The present
study is related to the second cause.
Water circulation control of steam generation is
an important problem that must be considered for
plant safety and reliability. Poor control leads to
frequent shutdown. Water circulation in natural
circulation drum boilers is one of the critical
problems in boiler technology. Poor water
circulation may cause tube rupture resulting in
unscheduled boiler shutdown that may interrupt
plant operation. Such poor circulation may arise
from operational-type problems such as rapid rises
in boiler load causing rapid rises in the heat flux as
a result of rapid rises in fuel flow rates. It is known
that each boiler tube experiences different heating
conditions due to the nonuniformity of heat flux
distribution in the furnace. During the last few
years, some boiler explosions were attributed to
poor water circulation [1]. As a result, calculations
and measurements of water circulation and other
operating parameters, such as steam quality and
void fraction, have become more important not
only for boiler manufacturers but also for large
industrial establishments as well as insurance
companies. Adequate water circulation is
necessary to cool tubes that form boiler walls.
Criteria are required to determine the potential for
tube overheating. These criteria can be applied
using circulation modeling and calculations to
identify problem areas. Modeling the steam
generator system including drum boiler, riser and
downcomer is one of the important problems.
Many previous investigations were conducted with
the objective of understanding the transient
behavior of the system.
Power plants are usually equipped with many
local controllers that need to be coordinated to
collectively reach a global objective under normal
and abnormal system conditions. Integrated
autonomy is thus an important part of power
plant operations and control. Preliminary results
of a sliding mode controller retrofit for a thermal
power plant were presented [2]. Simulation results
indicate that the performance of the sliding mode
controller is better than the existing multi-loop
PID controller, with respect to minimizing
deviations from set points and greater stability
Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
21
robustness in the event of faults. A digital control
system employing optimal control has been
developed [3] for a thermal power generator. The
system is designed to coordinate the control of the
excitation system and the governor system of a
thermal generator to improve the stability and to
suit practical application. Nomura and Sato [4]
applied adaptive optimal control to a coal-fired
thermal power plant emulator. Drum boiler
model, which runs in real time, has been
developed and validated [5] using dynamic data
recorded on an actual plant. The model can be
used for dynamic simulation studies in long time
frames, greater than 30 s, in particular where
assessment of deviations of internal parameters,
such as steam pressure, drum level and steam
temperature outside safety limits is essential.
Motivated by model-based control, Astorm and
Bell [6] developed a nonlinear dynamic model for
drum boilers. The goal was to develop a model
that captures the key dynamical properties over a
wide operating range. The model is based on
physical principles with a small number of
parameters. In their work particular attention
was given to the dynamics of the drum level as it
has been recognized that drum level control is an
important factor in power plant operation. The
model has four states; two account for storage of
total energy and total mass, one characterizes
steam distribution in the risers and another for the
steam distribution in the drum. The model is
augmented by quadratic approximations of the
steam tables and physical parameters thus derived.
The model has been validated against plant data
with very rich excitation that covers a wide
operating range. These experiments have given
insight into the behavior of the system and
have guided the modeling effort. The model is
nonlinear and agrees well with experimental data.
In particular, the complex shrink and swell
phenomena associated with the drum water level
are well captured by the model. Garduno-Ramirez
and Lee [7] presented a coordinated control
scheme for fossil fuel power plants drive units
based on optimal power–pressure mappings. The
procedure is presented through a case study, and
its feasibility is demonstrated via simulation
experiments. A modeling and control method for
Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
22 M. A. HABIB ET AL.
thermal power plants having nonlinear dynamics
varying with load was developed by [8]. They
presented a multivariable nonlinear exponential
model that may be applied to describe a class of
nonlinear systems satisfying certain smooth
conditions. The model can closely describe the
nonlinear dynamic behaviors of thermal power
plants over a wide operating range.
Habbi et al. [9] developed a nonlinear dynamic
fuzzy model for natural circulation drum
boiler–turbine is presented. The model was
derived from Astrom and Bell [6] nonlinear
dynamic system and describes the complicated
dynamics of the physical plant. It was shown that
the dynamic fuzzy model gives in some appropriate
sense accurate global nonlinear prediction and at
the same time that its local models are close
approximations to the local linearization of the
nonlinear dynamic system. Chen and Shamma [10]
presented a gain-scheduled approach for
boiler–turbine controller design. The controller is
to achieve tracking performance in the power
output and drum pressure while regulating water
level deviation. The boiler–turbine dynamics is
characterized by nonlinear dependence on drum
pressure. Kim and Choi [11] developed a model for
water level dynamics in the drum–riser–downcomer
loop of a natural circulation drum-type boiler. The
model is based on basic conservation rules of mass,
momentum, and energy, together with the
constitutional equations. The work provides an
investigation of the response of water level
dynamics to changes in steam demand and/or
heating rate. The results were compared with
those of [6]. Daren and Zhiqiang [12] provided
and evaluated a nonlinear coordinated controller
through computer simulation using a well-
established and validated nonlinear boiler–turbine
model. The simulation results are presented to
illustrate the performance of a nonlinear
coordinated control system and compare the
proposed strategy with the conventional direct
energy balance control strategy. A computer
program, Drum Boiler Start-up Simulation
Program for simulating the start-up behavior of
controlled circulation and natural circulation
boilers was developed by [13]. The model is based
on the principles of mass, energy and momentum
Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
conservations. The simulation results were
compared with experimental measurements.
The above examples clearly demonstrate the
value of dynamic simulation for the investigation
and development of new control strategies and
enhanced operational procedures of power plants.
The ability to perform transient analysis on the
proposed equipment with the control algorithm
prior to the finalization of the design phase assures
the supplier and customer of satisfactory
operation of both the hardware and the controls
of power plants. The present study aims at
developing, utilizing nonlinear modeling, a
numerical procedure for the dynamic simulation
of natural circulation steam generator system and
investigating the dynamic response of the pressure
in the drum, steam quality at the exit of the riser
tubes to rapid variations in fuel flow rate in order
to optimize the steam generator operation to
prevent the overheating of the riser tubes.
2. PROBLEM FORMULATION
The boiler tube walls are the medium through
which thermal energy released by the combustion
of fuel in the boiler furnace on one side are
transmitted to the water on the other side during
the process of steam production. The integrity of
these walls are essential to the continued and the
safe operation of the boiler and consequently to
the continuity of service by the power plant. One
of the main factors is to maintain the temperature
of the tube walls within safe limits. In order to do
that it will be crucial to identify the factors leading
to and predict the eminence of tube overheating.
The differential equations comprising the thermal
nonlinear dynamic model and governing the flow
inside the boiler tubes were formulated. The
following is a description of the mathematical
models considered in the present study.
2.1. Boiler modeling
The system considered includes the drum, riser and
downcomer. The governing equations consist of
conservation of mass and energy of the total
system, the equations governing the phase change
in the drum including the steam and water
Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL 23

@a
volumes inside the drum and the rate of steam a33 ¼ ðð1  xÞrg þ xrf Þhfg Vr ð10Þ
condensation and the equations governing the flow @x
circulation in the riser–downcomer loop, which @rg 1
govern the transport of the mass, energy and a42 ¼Vsd þ
@P hfg
momentum. Thus, a set of four differential non-  
linear equations [6] representing the time depen- @hg @hf @Ts
 rg Vsd þ rf Vwd  Vsd  Vwd þ Md Cp
dence of the state variables of the pressure, steam @P @P @P
 
quality, total water volume and steam volume in @rg @r @a
þ xð1 þ bÞVr a þ ð1  aÞ f þ ðrg  rf Þ
the drum can be presented as follows: @P @P @P
dVwt dP
a11 þ a12 ¼ m_ w  m_ s ð1Þ ð11Þ
dt dt
dVwt dP @a
a21 þ a22 ¼ Q_ þ m_ w hw  m_ s hg ð2Þ a43 ¼ xð1 þ bÞðrg  rf ÞVr ð12Þ
dt dt @x

dP dx a44 ¼ rg ð13Þ
a32 þ a33 ¼ Q_  xhfg m_ dc ð3Þ
dt dt To close this set of equations, the following
dP dx dVsd relations that are needed for the calculation of
a42 þ a43 þ a44 the mass flow rates in the riser and downcomer as
dt dt dt
well as the mass flow of steam condensation in the
rg 0 hw  hf
¼ ðV  Vsd Þ þ m_ w ð4Þ drum in addition to relations governing the steam
Td sd hfg quality and void fraction are presented in the
The coefficients of these four equations are following:
given by ðhf  hw Þ 1
m_ ct ¼ m_ w þ
a11 ¼ rf  rg ¼ rfg ð5Þ hfg hfg
 
@hg @hf @Ts dP
@rf @rg  rg Vst þ rf Vwt  Vt þ Mt Cp
a12 ¼ Vwt þ Vst ð6Þ @P @P @P dt
@P @P
ð14Þ
a21 ¼ rf hf  rg hg ð7Þ
: :
  mr ¼ mdc Vr
@r @hf
a22 ¼ Vwt hf f þ rf 
@rg

@P @P @r @a
 a þ ð1  aÞ f þ ðrg  rf Þ
  @P @P @P
@rg @hg @Ts
þ Vst hg þ rg  Vt þ Mt Cp dP @a dx
@P @P @P  þ rfg Vr ð15Þ
dt @P dt
ð8Þ rg
  m_ sd ¼ ðVsd  V0sd Þ þ xm_ dc þ xbðm_ dc  m_ r Þ
td
@hf @r
a32 ¼ rf  xhfg f ð1  aÞVr ð16Þ
@P @P
  rg V0sd
@rg @hg td ¼ ð17Þ
þ ð1  xÞhfg þ rg aVr m_ sd
@P @P
rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
@a @Ts 2rf Adc rfg gaVr
þ ðrg þ xrfg Þhfg Vr  Vr þ Mr Cp m_ dc ¼ ð18Þ
@P @P k
ð9Þ Vwt ¼ Vwd þ Vdc þ ð1  aÞVr ð19Þ

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
24 M. A. HABIB ET AL.

 ! !!
r rg rfg r r rfg
a¼ f 1 ln 1 þ x ð20Þ a ¼ f 1  s ln 1 þ x ð32Þ
rfg xrfg rs rfg xrfg rg
 
@a 1 @rg @rf Q_ ¼ m_ dc ðxhfg Þ ð33Þ
¼ r  r
@P ðrf  rg Þ2 f @P g
@P
td ðhf  hw Þ
! Vsd ¼ V0sd  m_ w ð34Þ
rf rg þ rf rg hfg
 1þ  ln ð1 þ ZÞ
rg ð1 þ ZÞ rg Z Vwt ¼ Vwd þ Vdc þ ð1  aÞ  Vr ð35Þ
ð21Þ
rg V0sd
  td ¼ ð36Þ
da rf 1 1 m_ sd
¼ ln ð1 þ ZÞ  ð22Þ
dx Zrg Z 1þZ The thermodynamic properties rf, rg, hf, hg, @r g @r
@P , @P ,
f

@hf @hg @Ts

Z ¼ xðrfg Þ=rg ð23Þ @P , @P , @P and Ts, were obtained from the
thermodynamic property tables [14].
Vwd þ Vsd Vsd
L¼ ; Ls ¼ and 2.3. Calculation of the heat transfer coefficient
Ad Ad
ð24Þ
Vwd The two-phase (liquid and vapor) flow pattern in a
Lw ¼ pipe depends on many parameters such as the flow
Ad
velocity, the quality of the mixture, the properties
In addition, the following equations for the rate of of the two phases (density, viscosity and surface
steam condensation in the drum were used in the tension) and the pipe geometry as well as its
place of Equations (16) and (17) for comparison of orientation. The flow patterns in horizontal tubes
the total water level in the drum and the are slightly different due to the effect of gravity.
contributions due to steam and water. The characteristics of the two-phase flow inside

ðhf  hw Þ 1 @hg @hf vertical and horizontal tubes are presented as
m_ cd ¼ m_ w þ r Vsd þ rf Vwd
hfg hfg g @P @P follows. The flow pattern in a given tube can be
 determined from the flow pattern maps in which
@Ts dP the region of operation of each flow pattern is
ðVsd þ Vwd Þ þ Md Cp ð25Þ
@P dt indicated [15, 16]. As shown by [16–18] and many
others, the flow patterns that are normally
rg ðV0sd  Vsd Þ
td ¼ ð26Þ encountered in vertical pipes are bubble flow, slug
m_ cd flow, churn flow, annular flow and wispy annular
flow. The flow patterns in horizontal tubes are
2.2. Steady state conditions slightly different due to the effect of gravity. These
patterns may take any of the forms of stratified
To obtain the initial conditions, the following
flow, plug flow, stratified wavy flow, dispersed
model equations at equilibrium conditions were
bubbly flow, annular flow and intermittent flow.
solved.
The flow pattern can be predicted for a given flow
m_ w ¼ m_ s ð27Þ condition using the semi-theoretical method of [19]
in which a flow pattern map is represented in terms
Q_ ¼ m_ s ðhg  hw Þ ð28Þ
of a number of dimensionless parameters.
m_ r ¼ m_ dc ð29Þ A large number of empirical and semi-empirical
correlations are available to predict heat transfer
m_ ct ¼ m_ w ðhf  hw Þ=hfg ð30Þ coefficients for the flow boiling regimes in vertical
rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi and horizontal tubes. Some of these correlations
2rf Adc ðrf  rg ÞgaVr have been widely tested and are practically used.
Q_ ¼ xhfg ð31Þ
k Some lack the validation. Examples of these are

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL 25

the models of [20–29]. A comparison of these 2.4. Wall temperature calculations

models with experimental data was conducted by
The following equations were used to calculate the
[30]. The model proposed by [27] was used to
inside and outside wall temperatures of the riser
calculate the heat transfer coefficient in the present
tube:
water circulation loop. The equation proposed by
[27] for the calculation of the heat transfer Ti  Tsat To  Ti
q00 pDo ¼ ; q00 pDo ¼ ð44Þ
coefficient includes a convection evaporation Rconv Rpipe
term and nucleate boiling term and is expressed as
where q00 is the heat flux at the outside surface of
h ¼ hL ½C1 ðCOÞC2 ð25Frl ÞC5 þ C3 BOC4 Fk  ð37Þ the tubes, Ti and To are the wall temperatures at
where hL is the single phase heat transfer the inner and outer walls of the tube. Tsat is the
coefficient and is calculated from the Dittus– water saturation temperature. Rconv and Rpipe are
Boelter equation [31]. the resistances of the inner water film and the
pipe thickness. Rconv and Rpipe are calculated from
Nu ¼ 0:023ðReÞ0:8 ðPrÞ0:4 ð38Þ the following relations:
where Re is the Reynolds number of the flow inside lnðDo =Di Þ 1
Rpipe ¼ ; Rconv ¼ ð45Þ
the tube and Pr is the Prandtl number for water. 2pKpipe pDi h
Gð1  xÞDi where Kpipe is the thermal conductivity of the pipe
Re ¼ ð39Þ
ml material. h is the heat transfer coefficient of the
Fk is a fluid dependent parameter (51 for water) water film inside the tube.
G2 2.5. The solution procedure
Fr is the Froude number ¼ ð40Þ
r2L gD
Equations (1)–(4) were solved simultaneously
G ¼ mass flux using an explicit method time step is 0.3 s for a
total time 150 s. The coefficients in these equations
m_ were obtained from Equations (5)–(13). These
¼ and D is the pipe diameter ð41Þ
A equations together with Equations (14)–(26) and
(37)–(45) were used to calculate the heat transfer
q00
BO is the boiling number ¼ ð42Þ coefficient and metal temperature as well as other
Ghfg
main boiler parameters. The operational data of
the simulated system are given in Table II. The
CO ¼ convection number
initial values were obtained through the solution
   
1  x 0:8 rv 0:5 of Equations (27)–(36) and are taken as given in
¼ ð43Þ Table III. Time step independence tests were
x rl
conducted and the results are shown in Figure 1.
x is the steam quality and the constants C1, C2, C3,
C4, C5 are given in Table I.
Table II. The operational data of the simulated system.
Table I. The thermal model constants.
Parameter Value Parameter Value
COp0.65 COX0.65 Comments
Drum 8.5 MPa Riser 37 m3
C1 1.136 0.6683 pressure volume
C2 0.9 0.2 Steam 49.9 kg s1 Downcomer 11 m3
C3 667.2 1058 flow rate volume
C4 0.7 0.7 Heating 85.9 MW Water surface 20 m2
C5 0.3 0.3 C5 5 0 for vertical tubes value area
and 5 0 for horizontal tubes Drum 40 m3 Feed water 238.61C
if Fr is greater than 0.04 volume temperature

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
26 M. A. HABIB ET AL.

The test was performed for the changes in drum 3. VALIDATION

pressure in response to step variations in firing rate
at three different values of time steps. The figure
indicates that the model captures the changes in
pressure with maximum variations of 0.8% as the
time step is reduced from 3 to 1 s and 0.2% as the
time step is reduced from 1 to 0.3 s.
Table III. The initial data (steady-state conditions) of
the simulated system.
Parameter
Pressure, P
Energy input, Q
Steam mass flow rate, m_ s
Feedwater mass flow rate, m_ w
In order to validate the present nonlinear dynamic
model, the responses of the different boiler
parameters to step variations in firing rate were
compared with available experimental data. Vali-
dation of the model was performed through
comparison of the present results against the
available data [6,32]. The measurements provide
firing rate variations with time as shown in
Figure 2. The responses of drum pressure to these
variations were recorded. The results of the
Units Value
present calculations are shown in Figure 3 for
kPa 8500 response to step variations in firing rate. The
MW 85.9 results show that the model captures the variations
kg s1 49.9
kg s1 49.9
in pressure. A reasonably good agreement is
achieved.

10000

9500

9000
Pressure (KPa)

8500

8000

7500
Time step= 0.3 s
Time step= 1 s
7000 Time step = 2 s
Time step = 3 s
6500
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Time (s)
Figure 1. Response of drum pressure to variations in firing rates (time step independence).

120
Firing rate (Energy

110
input), MW

100

90

80
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Time, s

Figure 2. Experimental data for distribution of firing rate [6].

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL 27

10000
Present calculations
Experimental data
9500

9000
P (KPA)
8500

8000

7500
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Time (s)

Figure 3. Comparison of numerical results of response of drum pressure to variations in firing rate with experimental
data of [6].

9400
Step rise = 10 %
9300
Step rise = 20 %

9200
Drum pressure, kPa

9100

9000

8900

8800

8700

8600

8500
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s

Figure 4. Response of drum pressure for step rise in heat input.

4. RESULTS rise in the heat input, the rate of pressure increase

The calculations were performed to investigate the
influence of step increase in heat input by 10% and
by 20% on the different boiler. Parameters such as
the pressure, the steam quality, the mass flow rates
in the riser and downcomer, the volumes of water
and steam and the heat transfer coefficient as well
as the metal temperature.
Figure 4 presents the change of the pressure as a
result of sudden increase in heat input, Q, _ and
shows that the pressure increases at a constant rate
of dP/dt 5 3.14 kPa/s as a result of a step rise in
the heat input of 10%. For the case of 20% step
is 6.5 kPa/s. In order to explain the increase in the
drum pressure, Figure 5 is provided and presents
the response of the mass flow rates in risers and
downcomers for the two cases of step rise in heat
input. The riser mass flow exhibits a sudden
increase as a result of increase in the heat input.
As the heat input, Q, _ is increased, a sudden
increase from the steady-state value in the mass
flow rate in the riser occurs. However, the
downcomer flow exhibits a gradual increase with
time. Thus, the outlet of the riser first increases
and then decreases to match the flow in the
downcomer. Thus, the difference between the riser

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
28 M. A. HABIB ET AL.

Figure 5. Response of mass flow rates in riser and downcomer for step rise in heat input.

0.06
Step rise = 10 %
0.059 Step rise = 20 %

0.058

0.057
Steam quality

0.056

0.055

0.054

0.053

0.052

0.051
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s

Figure 6. Response of steam quality for step rise in heat input.

and downcomer mass flow rates, m_ r  m_ dc ,
increases suddenly causing increase in the mass
flow rate into the drum and the volume of
steam–water in the drum. The difference between
both of the two flow rates diminishes at around
30 s from the moment of the step rise in heat input.
This is followed by a continuous gradual decrease
in the risers and downcomers mass flow rates. The
case of 20% step rise shows similar trends but with
higher magnitudes of flow rates in risers and
downcomers. As well, the difference between the
riser and downcomers at start of the rise is much
higher for the case of 20%. Consistent with the
increase in heat input, the quality at exit of the
riser increases as a result of increased rate of
evaporation. The quality increases first at a high
rate during the first 10 s. This is followed by less
steeper increase as shown in Figure 6.

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL 29

12 20.4
Step rise = 10 %
Step rise = 20 % 20.2

Drum steam volume, m3

Drum water volume, m 3

10
20

19.8
8
19.6

19.4
6
19.2

4 19
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s
Figure 7. Response of steam and water volumes in the drum for step rise in heat input.

Figure 8. Response of steam condensation for step rise in heat input.

Figure 7 presents the dynamics of steam and
water volumes in the drum under the water level.
The difference between the mass flow rate in the
risers and downcomers along with the increase in
the quality leads to a rise in the mass of water as
well as steam in the drum. As well, as shown in
Figure 7, the volume of the steam within the liquid
(under water level) in the drum, Vsd, increases as a
result of a combined increase in the riser flow rate
and the quality at exit of the riser. The increase in
the riser flow rate m_ r and the quality x cause high
increase in steam flow into the drum, which results
in increase in Vsd. The increase in Vsd is consistent
with the calculations of [11]. Figure 7 exhibits
continuous increase in the water volume in the
drum with high rate during the first 10 s. The rise
in steam inside the drum under the water level
reaches a maximum at around 100 s for the case of
20% and 130 s for the case of 10%, then, it
decreases. The reduction in the steam volume in

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
30 M. A. HABIB ET AL.

58.2 31

30.8

Steam volume, m 3
Water volume, m 3 57.8 30.6

30.4

57.4 30.2

Step rise = 10 % 30
Step rise = 20 %
57 29.8
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s
Figure 9. Response of total water and steam volumes for step rise in heat input.

14520 15400
Heat transfer coefficient, W/m 2K

Heat transfer coefficient, W/m 2K

Step rise = 10 %
15350
Step rise = 20 %

14480 15300

15250

14440 15200

15150

14400 15100

15050
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s
Figure 10. Response of heat transfer coefficient for step rise in heat input.

the drum after 50 s is due to the condensation of Figure 9 shows a decrease in the total steam
steam inside the drum, which causes a new volume, Vst, according to the relation Vst1
addition in the water volume. Figure 8 indicates Vwt 5 V where V is the total volume of the system.
that the rate of condensation as a result of increase The response of heat transfer coefficient, h, is
in pressure increases suddenly and then continues shown in Figure 10 and the response of the liquid
to increase but at a lower rate. The main cause of heat transfer coefficient, hL is presented in Figure
condensation is due to the increase in the pressure 11. As shown in Figure 10, h decreases during the
at the same saturation temperature Ts. Figure 9 first ten seconds. This is followed by increase in h
shows that the total volume of water in the system, with time. Despite that the case of 20% exhibit
Vwt, increases. The increase in Vwt is a result of higher values of h, the rate of increase in h is
increase of Vwd and the condensation of the steam slower for the case of 20%. The temperature
under the water level in the drum. Consistent with distributions are shown in Figure 12. In order to
the increase in the total water volume, Vwt, explain the behavior of the heat transfer

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL 31

8200

Liquid heat transfer coefficient, W/m 2K

8150

Step rise = 10 %
8100
Step rise = 20 %

8050

8000

7950

7900

7850
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s

Figure 11. Response of liquid heat transfer coefficient for step rise in heat input.

6.25 6.52

6.24 6.5
Temperature difference, °C

Temperature difference, °C
6.48
6.23
6.46
6.22
6.44
6.21
Step rise = 10 % 6.42
Step rise = 20 %
6.2 6.4

6.19 6.38
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s
Figure 12. Response of the difference between the metal and saturated steam temperatures for step rise in heat input.

coefficient, the response of the heat transfer the lower rate of increase in the shown above in
coefficient of the liquid, hL, Figure 11, and the Figure 10 and hL in Figure 11. Figure 14 exhibits
quality x, Figure 6, should be investigated. As the the distribution of the void fraction that indicates
pressure increases, rw increases and results in a a rapid increase in the first few seconds then
decrease in the volume flow rate, which, in turn, followed by a continuous reduction in its value. As
leads to reduction in the liquid flow velocity. The a result, the heat transfer coefficient decreases as
heat transfer coefficient of the liquid phase, hL, is shown in Figure 10. This explains the behavior of
influenced by the flow velocity, which is shown in the heat transfer coefficient, h, in Figure 10.
Figure 13. The rate of velocity decrease with time Comparison of response of water levels is
is much higher for the case of 20%. This explains made for the present results of step rise of 10%

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
32 M. A. HABIB ET AL.

1.17

1.16

1.15 Step rise = 10 %

Step rise = 20 %
Velocity, m/s

1.14

1.13

1.12

1.11
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s

Figure 13. Response of liquid flow velocity for step rise in heat input.

0.284

0.282 Step rise = 10 %

Step rise = 20 %
Steam volume fraction

0.28

0.278

0.276

0.274

0.272

0.27
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time, s
Figure 14. Response of steam volume fraction for step rise in heat input.

utilizing Equations (25) and (26) with those of [6],
which utilizes Equations (16) and (17) and also
with the results of [11]. Figure 15 provides a
comparison of the water level due to liquid and
steam contents. The present results confirm those
of [11], however, with higher magnitudes. The
present calculations and those of References
[6, 11] present the same water contribution to
water level. However, the differences are due to
the steam contribution to water level. The three
models present well the growth in bubble volume
in the first few seconds. However, the present
calculations and those of [11] show that the
volume of bubble continue to increase at a lower
rate rather than decrease and then increase as
given by [6]. The reason may be related to
Equation (16) used by [6], which is based on an
empirical model that has to be validated. The

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL 33

0.04

0.035

Drum water level, m 0.03

0.025

0.02
Calculations, [6]

0.015 Calculations, [11]

Present calculations
0.01

0.005

0
50 100 150 200
Time, s
Figure 15. Response of the drum level for step rise in heat input.

preliminary results of a current investigation on The results indicate that increasing the heat flux
the influence of step rise in steam flow rate show by 10% and by 20% can lead to high variations in
more close agreement of the present model and pressure, steam quality and water level in the
those of [6] and [11]. drum. As well, the changes in the heat transfer
coefficient lead to a temperature increase in the
riser metal temperature. The riser temperature
increases due to the increase in the steam
5. CONCLUSIONS
temperature and due to the dynamic influence
A thermal model for the prediction of possible tube resulting from increase in the heat flux. The
overheating was developed. The model incorporates results of the water level in the drum are in
a nonlinear state space dynamic model that reasonable comparison with those available in the
captures the important physical interactions of the literature.
main variables of steam generation in natural
circulation water tube drum boilers. The model is
used to investigate the dynamic effects of rapid NOMENCLATURE
changes in fuel flow rate on the overheating of the
riser tubes in natural circulation water tube boilers. A 5 Cross sectional area of the tube
The system under consideration includes the drum, Ad 5 The drum area at normal operat-
riser and downcomer as its major components. ing level
A numerical scheme for the solution of the governing BO 5 Boiling number
differential equations was established. The dynamic CO 5 Convection number
response of the system’s state variables due to rapid C1, C2, C3, 5 Constants used in Equation (37)
changes in fuel flow rate and steam flow rate was C 4, C 5 and their values are given in
investigated. The thermal model was used for the Table I
prediction of possible tube overheating was devised. Fr 5 Froude number

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
34 M. A. HABIB ET AL.

G 5 Mass flux ug 5 specific internal energy of steam

h 5 Specific enthalpy uw 5 specific internal energy of water
h 5 Heat transfer coefficient V 5 Volume
hfg 5 hfg 5 hg–hf Vd 5 Drum volume
hf 5 specific enthalpy of saturated li- Vdc 5 Downcomer volume
quid water Vr 5 Riser volume
hg 5 specific enthalpy of saturated Vsd 5 Volume of steam under the liquid
water vapor level
hw 5 specific enthalpy of feedwater V0sd 5 The volume of steam in the drum
k 5 dimensionless friction coefficient in the hypothetical situation when
used in Equation (18) there is no condensation of steam
K 5 Thermal conductivity in the drum
L 5 Drum water level Vst 5 Total volume of steam in the
Lw 5 Level variations caused by system
changes of the amount of water Vt 5 The total volume of the drum,
in the drum downcomer and risers; Vt 5 Vst1
Ls 5 Level variation caused by the Vwt
steam in the drum. Vwd 5 Volume of water under the liquid
Mf 5 Mass of saturated liquid in water level
walls and drum Vwt 5 Total volume of water in the
Mg 5 Mass of saturated vapor in water system
walls and drum vf 5 Specific volume of saturated liquid
Mr 5 Total riser mass water
Mt 5 Total mass of metal (including vg 5 Specific volume of saturated vapor
tubes and drum) water
m_ cd 5 The condensation flow rate in the x 5 Mass fraction of steam in the flow
drum xo 5 Distance from bottom at which
m_ ct 5 The total condensation flow rate boiling starts
m_ dc 5 The down comer flow rate
m_ f 5 Mass flow rate of feedwater sup- Subscripts
plied to the drum
m_ r 5 The flow rate out of the risers c 5 Condensation
m_ s 5 Mass flow rate of steam exiting the d 5 Drum
boiler to the superheater and dc 5 Downcomer
turbine m 5 Metal
m_ sd 5 Steam flow rate through the liquid s 5 Steam
surface in the drum sat 5 saturates
m_ w 5 Mass flow rate of feedwater f 5 Saturated liquid
Nu 5 Nusselt number fg 5 Difference between vapor and
P 5 Drum pressure, kPa liquid
Q_ 5 Heat flow rate to the risers r 5 Riser
00
q 5 Heat flux t 5 Total
td 5 Residence time of the steam in the w 5 Feedwater
drum
DT 5 TmetalTsat Greek Symbols
Tm 5 Metal temperature
Ts 5 Saturated steam temperature a 5 Volume fraction of steam in the
u 5 Specific internal energy flow

Copyright r 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Energy Res. 2010; 34:20–35
DOI: 10.1002/er
 A THERMAL NONLINEAR DYNAMIC MODEL
b 5 Parameter in empirical formula,
b 5 0.3
r 5 Density
rg 5 Density of saturated steam
rw 5 Density of feedwater
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the support received
from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
during this study.
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