Examination of a large number of experiments dealing with flashing flows in converging and converging-diverging nozzles reveals that knowledge of the flashing inception point is the key to the prediction of critical flow rates. An extension of the static flashing inception correlation of Jones [16] and Alamgir and Lienhard [17] to flowing systems has allowed the determination of the location of flashing inception in nozzle flows with subcooled inlet conditions. It is shown that in all the experiments examined with subcooled inlet regardless of the degree of inlet subcooling, flashing inception invariably occurred very close to the throat. A correlation is given to predict flashing inception in both pipes and nozzles which matches all data available, but is lacking verification in intermediate nozzle geometries where turbulence may be important. A consequence of this behavior is that the critical mass flux may be correlated to the pressure difference between the nozzle inlet and flashing inception, through a single phase liquid discharge coefficient and an accurate prediction of the flashing inception pressure at the throat. Comparison with the available experiments indicate that the predicted mass fluxes are within 5 percent of the measurements.

In view of the importance of obtaining unsteady local void fraction and interface velocities in liquid-vapor two-phase flows, an optical probe with a controlled tip geometry was developed and is described. In order to minimize the disturbances caused to the flow field by the presence of the probe, its dimensions have been miniaturized. The electronic and hydrodynamic responses of the probe were investigated experimentally. The probe was found to be sensitive to both the interface velocities and the phase present at the probe tip. A possible explanation for the behavior of the probe is presented. Within the velocity range checked and with proper calibration, the optical probe described can be used to determine both local void fractions and interface velocities.

By using as sources supersonic jets of hydrogen or helium containing small concentrations of heavier molecules we have been able to obtain molecular beams with kinetic energies of the heavy molecules well into the range above I electron volt. A variety of molecules have been successfully accelerated. Intensities of 10(16) to 10(17) heavy molecules per steradian-second have been achieved at these high energies.

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