Prediction of the effects of liquid viscosity on interfacial shear stress and frictional pressure drop in vertical upward gas–liquid annular flow

• Published in: International journal of multiphase flow Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 587 - 603
• Main Authors: Fukano, T., Furukawa, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: annular flow; Exact sciences and technology; Flows in ducts, channels, nozzles, and conduits; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Glycerol; interfacial friction factor; liquid viscosity; Liquids; Manometers; mean liquid film thickness; Multiphase and particle-laden flows; Multiphase flow; Nonhomogeneous flows; Physics; Pressure drop; Shear stress; Tubes (components); vertical upward flow; Water; wave height; mean liquid film thickness; annular flow; liquid viscosity; vertical upward flow; multiphase flow; pressure drop; wave height; interfacial friction factor; Gas liquid interface; Phase velocity; Flow regime; Two-phase flow; Pressure drop; Vertical pipe; Upward flow; Viscous friction; Liquid layer; Experimental study; Layer thickness; Annular flow
• ISSN: 0301-9322; 1879-3533
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-9322(97)00070-0

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of liquid viscosity on the mean liquid film thicknesses, wave heights, and gas–liquid interfacial shear stresses in the vertical-upward co-current annular flow in a 26.0 mm inner diameter tube. Water and glycerol solutions were used as working fluids to change the kinematic viscosity of liquid from 0.85×10 −6 to 8.6×10 −6 m 2/s. The mean liquid film thicknesses and wave heights were determined using the signals of time-varying cross-sectionally averaged holdup which were detected by a constant current method at a distance of about 3.5 m from an air–liquid mixer. The pressure gradients were also measured by a U-tube manometer. As a result we proposed correlations for the mean liquid film thicknesses and the interfacial friction factors. In addition a method to estimate the pressure drops is proposed and verified that the calculated values are in good agreement with the measured values.