Internal structure and interfacial velocity development for bubbly two-phase flow

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 151; no. 1; pp. 79 - 101
• Main Authors: Kocamustafaogullari, G., Huang, W.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.1994; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Thermodynamics, mechanics etc. For energy applications; Horizontal pipe; Fluid mechanics; Two phase flow; Flow velocity; Void fraction; Velocity distribution; Bubble flow; Interfacial area
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/0029-5493(94)90035-3

This paper describes an experimental study of the internal structure of air-water flowing horizontally. The double-sensor resistivity probe technique was applied for measurements of local interfacial parameters, including void fraction, interfacial area concentration, bubble size distributions, bubble passing frequency and bubble interface velocity. Bubbly flow patterns at several flow conditions were examined at three axial locations, L D = 25, 148 and 253 , in which the first measurement represents the entrance region where the flow develops, and the second and third may represent near fully developed bubbly flow patterns. The experimental results are presented in three-dimensional perspective plots of the interfacial parameters over the cross-section. These multi-dimensional presentations showed that the local values of the void fraction, interfacial area concentration and bubble passing frequency were nearly constant over the cross-section at L D = 25 , with slight local peaking close to the channel wall. Although similar local peakings were observed at the second and third locations, the internal flow structure segregation due to buoyancy appeared to be very strong in the axial direction. A simple comparison of profiles of the interfacial parameters at the three locations indicated that the flow pattern development was a continuous process. Finally, it was shown that the so-called “fully developed” bubbly two-phase flow pattern cannot be established in a horizontal pipe and that there was no strong correspondence between void fraction and interface velocity profiles.