Mechanism of Slug Formation in Horizontal Two-Phase Flow

1970 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Kordyban ◽  
T. Ranov

It is proposed in this work that the transition to slug flow occurs due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, which, in this case, is enhanced by the proximity of the upper wall and becomes wave-amplitude dependent. Since the surface waves possess a limiting amplitude, the transition can be predicted by examining whether the highest possible waves are unstable. The theoretical prediction is in good agreement with the authors’ experimental results. It also agrees reasonably well with Baker’s and Schicht’s flow pattern charts for strictly horizontal channels, but it exhibits large differences when the channels deviate somewhat from the horizontal.

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. F. Caetano ◽  
O. Shoham ◽  
J. P. Brill

Mechanistic models have been developed for each of the existing two-phase flow patterns in an annulus, namely bubble flow, dispersed bubble flow, slug flow, and annular flow. These models are based on two-phase flow physical phenomena and incorporate annulus characteristics such as casing and tubing diameters and degree of eccentricity. The models also apply the new predictive means for friction factor and Taylor bubble rise velocity presented in Part I. Given a set of flow conditions, the existing flow pattern in the system can be predicted. The developed models are applied next for predicting the flow behavior, including the average volumetric liquid holdup and the average total pressure gradient for the existing flow pattern. In general, good agreement was observed between the experimental data and model predictions.


Author(s):  
Bai Bofeng ◽  
Liu Maolong ◽  
Su Wang ◽  
Zhang Xiaojie

An experimental study was conducted on the air-water two-phase flow patterns in the bed of rectangular cross sections containing spheres of regular distribution. Three kinds of glass spheres with different diameters (3 mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm) were used for the establishment of the test section. By means of visual observations of the two-phase flow through the test section, it was discovered that five different flow patterns occurred within the experimental parameter ranges, namely, bubbly flow, bubbly-slug flow, slug flow, slug-annular flow, and annular flow. A correlation for the bubble and slug diameter in the packed beds was proposed, which was an extended expression of the Tung/Dhir model, Jamialahmadi’s model, and Schmidt’s model. Three correlations were proposed to calculate the void friction of the flow pattern transition in bubble flow, slug flow, and annular flow based on the bubble model in the pore region. The experimental result showed that the modified Tung and Dhir model of the flow pattern transition was in better agreement with the experimental data compared with Tung and Dhir’s model.


1994 ◽  
Vol 38 (01) ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
J. A. P. Aranha ◽  
M. O. Pinto

This paper reviews the phenomenon of the steady tilt of a semisubmersible from the point of view of the theory of bifurcation. The problem is similar to that of the buckling of an elastic structure, with the wave amplitude playing the role of the critical load. Depending on the wavenumber, the bifurcation can be "subtle," as in the case of a Euler beam, or "catastrophic," as in the case of shells and arches. Experimental results on a simplified submerged structure show very good agreement with the theoretical prediction from the viewpoint of second-order wave theory.


Author(s):  
Hiroyasu Ohtake ◽  
Hideyasu Ohtaki ◽  
Yasuo Koizumi

The frictional pressure drops and two-phase flow patterns of gas-liquid two-phase flow in mini-micro pipes and at vena contract and expansion were investigated experimentally. Test liquid was water; test gas was argon. The diameter of the test mini-pipe was 0.5, 0.25 and 0.12 mm, respectively. The pressure drop data and the flow pattern were collected over 2.1 < Ug < 92.5 m/s for the superficial gas velocity and 0.03 < Ul < 10 m/s for the superficial liquid velocity. The experimental results show that the flow patterns were slug, churn, ring and annular flows; pure bubbly flow pattern was not observed in a range of the present experimental conditions. The two-phase friction multiplier data for D > 0.5 mm showed to be in good agreement with the conventional correlations. On the other hand, the two-phase friction multiplier data for D < 0.25 mm differed from the calculated values by the conventional correlations. Then, thickness of liquid film around a gas plug and size of gas core were estimated and the effect of frictional pressure drop on channel size was discussed through Knudsen Number of gas and instability on liquid-gas interface. The coefficients of sudden enlargement and sudden contraction in mini-pipes for the gas-water two-phase flow were modified from the present experimental results.


1990 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kordyban

Over the last twenty years a number of papers have appeared in literature concerning the transition to slug flow in horizontal two-phase flow. The theories proposed in these papers are described, and compared to each other and to results of experiments. It is found that most writers accept that the transition is due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability of the waves, but if this is studied on the basis of wave motion equations, the transition is found to be dependent on wavelength which contradicts experimental data. A number of authors look at this instability by studying the Bernoulli equation, but this does not predict the wave height. Various approaches are taken by the authors to determine this quantity.


2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Cargnelutti ◽  
S. P. C. Belfroid ◽  
W. Schiferli

Two-phase flow occurs in many situations in industry. Under certain circumstances, it can be a source of flow-induced vibrations. The forces generated can be sufficiently large to affect the performance or efficiency of an industrial device. In the worst-case scenario, the mechanical forces that arise may endanger structural integrity. Thus, it is important to take these forces into account in designing industrial machinery to avoid problems during operation. Although the occurrence of such forces is well known, not much is known about their magnitudes because, unfortunately, the amount of experimental data available in literature are rather limited. This paper describes the experiments performed to measure forces in 6 mm diameter tubing containing a bend. Experiments are performed on bends of different radii, with the bend positioned horizontally or vertically. The experimental results are analyzed based on flow regime and bend configuration. A comparison with available experimental results for bigger internal pipe diameter shows a general good agreement. To improve future predictions, a simple model based on momentum exchange is proposed to estimate the forces generated by multiphase flow. The proposed model shows a good agreement with the experimental data.


2013 ◽  
Vol 746 ◽  
pp. 575-580
Author(s):  
Xue Min Liu ◽  
Zhou Hang Li ◽  
Yu Xin Wu ◽  
Jun Fu Lu

Aiming at the diameter range of boiler water wall tubes in practical engineering application, the air-water two phase flow pattern in horizontal tube was experimentally investigated in tubes with different inner diameters of 20mm and 8 mm under atmosphere condition. The stratified flow, wave flow, plug flow, slug flow, annular flow, bubbly flow and mist flow were observed in the tubes. Most of the experimental points agree well with the Baker flow pattern map when they appear in the map. With the experimental results, the range lines between the flow patterns were suggested for the tube of 20mm in inner diameter as well as 8mm. As the water superficial velocity increases, the annular flow transforms into mist flow at a decreasing air superficial velocity. The two phase flow patterns transition line is similar in tendency for different tubes. The slug flow transforms into annular flow at an increasing air superficial velocity as tube diameter decreases. The stratified flow transforms into slug flow at an increasing water superficial velocity as tube diameter decreases. The transition line between plug flow and slug flow is independent of tube diameter.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faraj Ben Rajeb ◽  
Syed Imtiaz ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Amer Aborig ◽  
Mohamed M. Awad ◽  
...  

Abstract Slug flow is one of the most common flow patterns in non-Newtonian two-phase flow in pipes. It is a very common occurrence in gas-liquid two-phase flow in the pipe. Usually, it is an unfavorable flow pattern due to its unsteady nature, intermittency as well as high pressure drop. The differences between slug flow and elongated bubble flow are not clear because usually these two types of flow combined under one flow category. In general, these two-phase flow regimes are commonly defined as intermittent flow. In the present study, pressure gradient, and wave behavior in slug flow have been investigated depending on experimental work. In addition, void fraction has been estimated regarding available superficial liquid and gas velocities. The experimental records of superficial velocities of gas and liquid for slug flow and other flow patterns is used to create flow regime map for the gas non-Newtonian flow system. The effect of investigated flow regime velocities for non-Newtonian/gas flow on pressure drop and void fraction is reported. Pressure drop has been discovered to be reduced in slug flow more than other flow patterns due to high shear thinning behavior.


Author(s):  
Olufemi E. Bamidele ◽  
Wael H. Ahmed ◽  
Marwan Hassan

The current work studies air-water flow through a ½-inch flow restricting orifice installed in a 1-inch pipe. Investigation of two phase flow downstream the orifice and its effects on vibration of the piping structure have been carried out. Several flow regimes from bubbly to stratified-wavy flow have been analyzed to evaluate the effects of flow pattern, phase redistribution, bubble frequency, and liquid flow rate on the vibration of the structure. The liquid velocity fields have been obtained using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) along with post processing algorithm for phase discrimination. Proximity sensors have been used to capture the pipe response in two orthogonal directions. Also, a capacitance sensor was used to measure the two-phase void fraction. The results show that the magnitude and nature of vibrations of the piping structure is largely affected by the frequency and size of the bubbles upstream, vortex creation by pressure fluctuation downstream, liquid flow rate, and the flow pattern upstream. Slug flow and stratified flow patterns induced significant vibrations in the examined structure. The location of the transition region of slug flow on flow pattern maps, play important role in the dynamic response of the structure to the flow.


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