Numerical simulation of counter-flow spray saturator for humid air turbine cycle

The numerical simulations of simultaneous heat and mass transfer process in the counter-flow spray saturator and humid air turbine cycle are carried out in this work, according to the experimental conditions and actual size of a prototype saturator. This humidifying process involves two-phase flow of air and water droplets, also including interaction, breakup and collision of water droplets. Eulerian approach is used for gas phase flow, Lagrangian approach is used for liquid phase flow, and the two-way coupling is used between two phases. The simulations agree well with the experimental measurements. The simulations show the flow is with high turbulence intensity, the relative humidity and temperature of humid air increase along with the height of saturator, some water droplets carried by air escape from the saturator, and the humid air is mainly humidified at the lower part of saturator and is simultaneously humidified and heated at the upper part.