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Experimental study of the characteristics of an upward two-phase slug flow in a vertical pipe

Saidj, Faiza; Hasan, Abbas; Bouyahiaoui, Hiba; Zeghloul, Ammar; Azzi, Abdelwahid

Authors

Faiza Saidj

Hiba Bouyahiaoui

Ammar Zeghloul

Abdelwahid Azzi



Abstract

Characteristics of the slug flow, mean void fraction, liquid slug and Taylor bubble lengths; and structure frequency were all extracted from the void fraction time series. Average void fractions at nine axial positions have been measured on a 6 m long (and 34 mm diameter) pipe test section by using conductance probes.

For the flow conditions used, bubbly (with spherical cap bubble), slug/plug and churn/semi-annular flow patterns were observed. These observations were also confirmed by using statistical numbers.

Time series analysis of the mean void fraction and its corresponding PDFs show that the effect of the mixer on the flow becomes, practically, negligible from a distance of 95 pipe diameter.

It was found that, generally, the structure velocity can be well predicted from other available correlations in the literature.

The theoretical model of Brauner and Ullmann was used to estimate the liquid in slug void fraction. It was inferred that this model is able to predict well the liquid slug void fraction; thus, it can be considered as one of the useful methods for predicting such parameter and to ascertain slug flow regime.

The total pressure gradient was found to decrease with increasing gas superficial velocity.

Citation

Saidj, F., Hasan, A., Bouyahiaoui, H., Zeghloul, A., & Azzi, A. (2018). Experimental study of the characteristics of an upward two-phase slug flow in a vertical pipe. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 108, 428-437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.07.001

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 2, 2018
Online Publication Date Jul 7, 2018
Publication Date 2018-09
Deposit Date Sep 16, 2019
Journal Progress in Nuclear Energy
Print ISSN 0149-1970
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 108
Pages 428-437
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.07.001
Keywords Slug; Characteristics; Pressure drop; Void fraction; Two-phase flow
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/2481248
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149197018301677?via%3Dihub