Separated two-phase flow regime parameter measurement by a high speed ultrasonic pulse-echo system

2007 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 114901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Masala ◽  
Glenn Harvel ◽  
Jen-Shih Chang
Author(s):  
Sidharth Paranjape ◽  
Susan N. Ritchey ◽  
Suresh V. Garimella

Electrical impedance of a two-phase mixture is a function of void fraction and phase distribution. The difference in the electrical conductance and permittivity of the two phases can be exploited to measure electrical impedance for obtaining void fraction and flow regime characteristics. An electrical impedance meter is constructed for the measurement of void fraction in microchannel two-phase flow. The experiments are conducted in air-water two-phase flow under adiabatic conditions. A transparent acrylic test section of hydraulic diameter 780 micrometer is used in the experimental investigation. The impedance void meter is calibrated against the void fraction measured using analysis of images obtained with a high-speed camera. Based on these measurements, a methodology utilizing the statistical characteristics of the void fraction signals is employed for identification of microchannel flow regimes.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Pawloski ◽  
C. Y. Ching ◽  
M. Shoukri

The void fractions, flow regimes, and pressure drop of air-oil two-phase flow in a half-inch diameter pipe over a wide range of test conditions have been investigated. The flow regimes were identified with the aid of a 1000 frames per second high-speed camera. A capacitance sensor for instantaneous void fraction measurements was developed. The mean and probability density function of the instantaneous void fraction signal can be used to effectively identify the different flow regimes. The current flow regime data show significant differences in the transitional boundaries of the existing flow regime maps. Property correction factors for the flow regime maps are recommended. The pressure drop measurements were compared to the predictions from four existing two-phase flow pressure drop models. Though some of the models performed better for certain flow regimes, none of the models were found to give accurate results over the entire range of flow regimes.


Author(s):  
Paul J. Kreitzer ◽  
Michael Hanchak ◽  
Larry Byrd

Understanding the behavior of transient two phase refrigerant flow is an important aspect of implementing vapor compression systems in future aerospace applications. Pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient are important parameters that guide the design process, and are influenced by flow regime. Published two phase flow models rely heavily on a priori knowledge of the current two phase flow conditions including flow regime. Additional complications arise when applying published correlations to a range of systems because each correlation is based on a specific set of experimental conditions, including working fluid, flow orientation, channel size, and channel shape. Non-intrusive measurement techniques provide important advantages while measuring the behavior of two phase flow systems. A two phase flow experimental test rig has been developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory, providing a closed loop refrigeration system capable of producing flow regimes from bubbly through annular flow. Two phase flow is produced by pumping subcooled R134a through a heat exchanger with 40 minichannels into an adiabatic transparent fused quartz observation channel with a hydraulic diameter of 7 mm. Refrigerant mass flux is varied from 100–400 kg/m2s with a heat flux from 0–15.5 W/cm2. Temperatures ranged from 18–25 °C and pressures between 550–750 kPa. The data from high speed pressure transducers were analyzed using standard signal processing techniques to identify the different flow regimes. Initial results indicate that different flow regimes can be identified from their pressure signature. In addition, real-time void fraction measurements were taken using Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT). This paper describes the process behind ECT systems used to measure two phase flow conditions. Comparisons with high speed video assess the accuracy of ECT measurements in identifying various two phase flow conditions. Results indicate variations between ECT and high speed images, however, enough information is provided to create flow pattern maps and regime identification for different superficial vapor and liquid velocities.


Author(s):  
Hossam S. Sadek ◽  
James S. Cotton ◽  
Chan Y. Ching ◽  
Mamdouh Shoukri

The effects of applying DC high voltage electric fields on two-phase flow regime transitions for flowing refrigerant HFC-134a were visualized using a high speed camera. The viewing test section was made of 10 mm inner diameter quartz tube with a 3.18 mm diameter charged electrode placed along the center of the tube. The quartz tube was coated with an electrically grounded transparent conductive film of Tin Oxide. The experiments were performed for mass flux (55 kg/m2s < G < 263 kg/m2s), quality (20% < x < 80%) and applied voltage (0 kV < V < 8 kV). The flow regime transitions depend on the flow regime prior to applying the EHD. For stratified flow, EHD increases the interfacial instabilities and causes liquid extraction to the upper section of the tube. When the flow regime is initially annular flow, EHD increases the uniformity of the annular film by extracting liquid from the thicker liquid regions into the vapor core.


Author(s):  
J. Pawloski ◽  
C. Ching ◽  
M. Shoukri

The flow regimes and pressure drop of air-oil two-phase flow in a half-inch diameter pipe over a wide range of test conditions have been investigated. The flow regimes were identified with the aid of a 1000 frames per second high-speed camera. The current flow regime data show significant differences in the transitional boundaries from the flow regime maps of Mandhane et al. (1974), Taitel and Dukler (1974) and Spedding and Nguyen (1980). The pressure drop measurements were compared to the predictions from four existing pressure drop models: Homogeneous, Martinelli (1948), Chisolm (1973) and Olujic (1985). The Chisolm and Martinelli models were found to be the most accurate, with an average error of about 35 percent. A capacitance sensor for instantaneous void fraction measurement was developed. Results indicate the data from the sensor could be used to identify the different flow regimes.


1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 2595-2603
Author(s):  
Lothar Ebner ◽  
Marie Fialová

Two regions of instabilities in horizontal two-phase flow were detected. The first was found in the transition from slug to annular flow, the second between stratified and slug flow. The existence of oscillations between the slug and annular flows can explain the differences in the limitation of the slug flow in flow regime maps proposed by different authors. Coexistence of these two regimes is similar to bistable behaviour of some differential equation solutions.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 544-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Young Son ◽  
Jeffrey S. Allen ◽  
Kenneth O. Kihm

Author(s):  
Jacqueline Barber ◽  
Khellil Sefiane ◽  
David Brutin ◽  
Lounes Tadrist

Boiling in microchannels remains elusive due to the lack of full understanding of the mechanisms involved. A powerful tool in achieving better comprehension of the mechanisms is detailed imaging and analysis of the two phase flow at a fundamental level. We induced boiling in a single microchannel geometry (hydraulic diameter 727 μm), using a refrigerant FC-72, to investigate several flow patterns. A transparent, metallic, conductive deposit has been developed on the exterior of rectangular microchannels, allowing simultaneous uniform heating and visualisation to be conducted. The data presented in this paper is for a particular case with a uniform heat flux of 4.26 kW/m2 applied to the microchannel and inlet liquid mass flowrate, held constant at 1.33×10−5 kg/s. In conjunction with obtaining high-speed images and videos, sensitive pressure sensors are used to record the pressure drop profiles across the microchannel over time. Bubble nucleation, growth and coalescence, as well as periodic slug flow, are observed in the test section. Phenomena are noted, such as the aspect ratio and Reynolds number of a vapour bubble, which are in turn correlated to the associated pressure drops over time. From analysis of our results, images and video sequences with the corresponding physical data obtained, it is possible to follow visually the nucleation and subsequent both ‘free’ and ‘confined’ growth of a vapour bubble over time.


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