Two-Phase Flow Regime Transitions in Microchannel Tubes: The Effect of Hydraulic Diameter

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Coleman ◽  
Srinivas Garimella
Keyword(s):  
Flow Regime ◽  
Mass Flux ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Hydraulic Diameter ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Flow Mechanisms

Abstract An experimental investigation of two-phase flow mechanisms during condensation of refrigerant R134a in small diameter round and rectangular tubes was conducted. A 4.91 mm round tube, and four round tubes with hydraulic diameters ranging from 1 mm – 4 mm were studied to characterize the influence of tube miniaturization on the flow mechanisms. For each tube under consideration, flow mechanisms were recorded over the entire range of qualities 0 < x < 1, and for five different mass fluxes between 150 kg/m2-s and 750 kg/m2-s. Approximately 50 data points were recorded for each tube to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of geometry, mass flux and quality on the phase-change flow mechanisms. The flow mechanisms were categorized into four different flow regimes: intermittent flow, wavy flow, annular flow, and dispersed flow. In addition, the large amount of data over a wide range of test conditions enabled the delineation of several different flow patterns within each flow regime, which provides a clearer understanding of the different modes of two-phase flow. Transition lines between the respective flow patterns and regimes on these maps were established based on the experimental data. It was found that the intermittent flow regime becomes larger as the tube hydraulic diameter is decreased. Also, the size of the wavy flow regime decreases for the small diameter tubes, and disappears completely for the 1 × 1 mm square tube. These maps and transition lines can be used to predict the flow pattern or regime that will be established for a given mass flux, quality and tube geometry.

Void Fraction, Pressure Drop, and Flow Pattern Behavior for Two-Phase Non-Newtonian Slug Flow

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faraj Ben Rajeb ◽  
Syed Imtiaz ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Amer Aborig ◽  
Mohamed M. Awad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Void Fraction ◽  
Slug Flow ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase

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.

Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow Regimes in Microchannels

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Akbar ◽  
D. A. Plummer ◽  
S. M. Ghiaasiaan
Keyword(s):  
Flow Regime ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Plug Flow ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Recent Experimental Data ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Cross Sectional

Recent experimental data dealing with gas-liquid two-phase flow regimes and their transitions in microchannels with circular and near-circular cross-sections are reviewed and compared. It is shown that, for microchannels with hydraulic diameters close to 1 mm, the available data are in good agreement. These data are used as the basis for the development of a simple Weber number-based flow regime map that divides the entire flow map into four zones: a surface tension dominated zone including bubbly and plug flow patterns; an inertia dominated zone representing the annular flow regime; a dispersed/churn flow zone; and a transition zone that consists of other intermittent flow patterns. Comparison is als o made with the limited available data representing channels with slightly larger hydraulic diameters or different cross-sectional geometries, and the effects of channel cross-sectional geometry and size are examined and discussed. The areas in need of further systematic experimental investigation are identified.

Non-Intrusive Optical Validation of Two-Phase Flow Regimes in a Small Diameter Tube

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darin J. Sharar ◽  
Arthur E. Bergles ◽  
Nicholas R. Jankowski ◽  
Avram Bar-Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Traditional Use ◽  
Adiabatic Flow ◽  
Flow Pattern Identification

A non-intrusive optical method for two-phase flow pattern identification was developed to validate flow regime maps for two-phase adiabatic flow in a small diameter tube. Empirical measurements of film thickness have been shown to provide objective identification of the dominant two-phase flow regimes, representing a significant improvement over the traditional use of exclusively visual and verbal descriptions. Use of this technique has shown the Taitel-Dukler, Ullmann-Brauner, and Wojtan et al. phenomenological flow regime mapping methodologies to be applicable, with varying accuracy, to small diameter two-phase flow.

scholarly journals Flow Patterns Transition Law of Oil-Water Two-Phase Flow under a Wide Range of Oil Phase Viscosity Condition

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wang ◽  
Wei Cheng ◽  
Kai Li ◽  
Chen Lou ◽  
Jing Gong
Keyword(s):  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Stratified Flow ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Neutral Stability ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oil Water

A systematic work on the prediction of flow patterns transition of the oil-water two-phase flows is carried out under a wide range of oil phase viscosities, where four main flow regimes are considered including stratified, dispersed, core-annular, and intermittent flow. For oil with a relatively low viscosity, VKH criterion is considered for the stability of stratified flow, and critical drop size model is distinguished for the transition of o/w and w/o dispersed flow. For oil with a high viscousity, boundaries of core-annular flow are based on criteria proposed by Bannwart and Strazza et al. and neutral stability law ignoring that the velocity of the viscous phase is introduced for stratified flow. Comparisons between predictions and quantities of available data in both low and high viscosity oil-water flow from literatures show a good agreement. The framework provides extensive information about flow patterns transition of oil-water two-phase flow for industrial application.

Computer Programming Simulation of Two-Phase Flow Pipelines Using Mechanistic and Semi-Empirical Models

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Fazeli ◽  
Ali Vatani
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Empirical Models ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Liquid Holdup ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Segregated Flow ◽  
Semi Empirical

Two-phase flow pipelines are utilized in simultaneous transferring of liquid and gas from reservoir fields to production units and refineries. In order to obtain the hydraulic design of pipelines, pressure drop and liquid holdup were calculated following pipeline flow regime determination. Two semi-empirical and mechanistical models were used. Empirical models e.g. Beggs & Brill, 1973, are only applicable in certain situations were pipeline conditions are adaptable to the model; therefore we used the Taitel & Dukler, 1976, Baker et al., 1988, Petalas & Aziz, 1998, and Gomez et al., 1999, mechanistical models which are practical in more extensive conditions. The FLOPAT code was designed and utilized which is capable of the determining the physical properties of the fluid by either compositional or non-compositional (black oil) fluid models. It was challenged in various pipeline positions e. g. horizontal, vertical and inclined. Specification of the flow regime and also pressure drop and liquid holdup could precisely be calculated by mechanistical models. The flow regimes considered in the pipeline were: stratified, wavy & annular (Segregated Flow), plug & slug (Intermittent Flow) and bubble & mist (Distributive Flow). We also compared output results against the Stanford Multiphase Flow Database which were used by Petalas & Aziz, 1998, and the effect of the flow rate, pipeline diameter, inclination, temperature and pressure on the flow regime, liquid holdup and pressure drop were studied. The outputs (flow regime, pressure drop and liquid holdup) were comparable with the existing pipeline data. Moreover, by this comparison one may possibly suggest the more suitable model for usage in a certain pipeline.

Two-Phase Flow Patterns During Microchannel Vaporization of CO2 at Near-Critical Pressures

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jostein Pettersen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Mass Flux ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Bubble Formation ◽  
Glass Tube ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase

Carbon dioxide (CO2 / R-744) is receiving renewed interest as a refrigerant, in many cases based on systems with microchannel heat exchangers that have high pressure capability, efficient heat transfer, and compact design. A good understanding of two-phase flow of evaporating CO2 in microchannels is needed to analyze and predict heat transfer. A special test rig was built in order to observe two-phase flow patterns, using a horizontal quartz glass tube with ID 0.98 mm, externally coated by a transparent resistive film. Heat flux was obtained by applying DC power to the film, and flow patterns were recorded at 4000 or 8000 frames per second by a digital video camera. Flow patterns were recorded for temperatures 20°C and 0°C, and for mass flux ranging from 100 to 580 kgm−2s−1. The observations showed a dominance of intermittent (slug) flow at low x, and wavy annular flow with entrainment of droplets at higher x. At high mass flux, the annular/entrained flow pattern could be described as dispersed. The aggravated dryout problem reported from heat transfer experiments at high mass flux could be explained by increased entrainment. Stratified flow was not observed in the tests with heat load. Bubble formation and growth could be observed in the liquid film, and the presence of bubbles gave differences in flow pattern compared to adiabatic flow. The flow pattern observations did not fit generalized maps or transition lines showed in the literature.

The Effects of Inlet Geometry and Gas-Liquid Mixing on Two-Phase Flow in Microchannels

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kawaji ◽  
K. Mori ◽  
D. Bolintineanu
Keyword(s):  
Void Fraction ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Internal Diameter ◽  
Inlet Section ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Inlet Geometry

The effects of gas-liquid inlet geometry and mixing method on adiabatic gas-liquid two-phase flow in a microchannel of 100 μm diameter have been investigated using a T-junction inlet with the same internal diameter as the microchannel. Two-phase flow patterns, void fraction, and friction pressure drop data obtained with the T-junction inlet were found to be significantly different from those obtained previously with a reducer inlet. For the T-junction inlet, the two-phase flow patterns in the microchannel were predominantly intermittent flows with short gas and liquid plugs/slugs flowing with nearly equal velocities. The void fraction data then conformed nearly to that of a homogeneous flow model, and the two-phase friction multiplier data could be described by the Lockhart–Martinelli correlation applicable to larger channels. However, when a reducer inlet was used previously and the diameter of the inlet section was much larger than that of the microchannel, an intermittent flow of long gas slugs separated by long liquid slugs became prevalent and the void fraction decreased to values far below the homogeneous void fraction. The differences in the two-phase flow characteristics between a T-junction inlet and reducer inlet were attributed to the differences in the gas bubble/slug generation mechanisms.

Water-Silicone Oil Two-Phase Flow Hydrodynamics in a Square Glass Microchannel

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zan Wu ◽  
Astrid Svensson ◽  
Jin-yuan Qian ◽  
Bengt Sunden
Keyword(s):  
Flow Regime ◽  
Slug Flow ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Silicone Oil ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Flow Rate Ratio ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Dimensionless Numbers ◽  
Two Phase

This work visualized water-silicone oil two-phase flow patterns both at the inlet cross-junction and in the main square microchannel with a channel width of 400 μm. Tubing/threading, dripping and jetting were identified at the inlet junction while annular, slug and droplet flows were categorized in the main microchannel at 50 mm downstream of the junction. Flow patterns were represented in terms of superficial velocities and dimensionless numbers. Compared to water-silicone oil flow, addition of surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in water, with a dilute SDS concentration of 1000 ppm, narrows the dripping regime and widens the jetting regime at the inlet junction, while narrows the slug flow regime and widens the droplet flow regime in the main microchannel. A decrease in dynamic interfacial tension due to SDS addition is supposed to be the reason for such a flow pattern modification. Besides, for slug flow, the slug length can be scaled as a power law of the flow rate ratio and the Capillary number of the organic phase. The slug velocity is linearly dependent on the bulk average velocity for both cases with and without SDS addition.

scholarly journals Flow Regime, Slug Frequency and Wavelet Analysis of Air/Newtonian and Air/non-Newtonian Two-Phase Flow

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3272
Author(s):  
Munzarin Morshed ◽  
Muhammad Saad Khan ◽  
Mohammad Azizur Rahman ◽  
Syed Imtiaz
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Wavelet Analysis ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Horizontal Flow ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Frequency Model

This study focused on gas/Newtonian and gas/non-Newtonian two-phase horizontal fluid flow behavior by analyzing their flow regime identification and flow structural analysis on a horizontal flow loop apparatus. This involved the recognition of two-phase flow regimes for this flow loop and validation with existing flow maps in the literature. In addition, the study included flow pattern identification via wavelet analysis for gas/Newtonian and gas/non-Newtonian two-phase fluid flow in a horizontal flow loop apparatus. Furthermore, the study was extended to the detailed examination of slug frequency in the presence of air/Newtonian and air/non-Newtonian fluid flow, and the predicted slug frequency model was applied to the studied systems. The obtained results suggest that the flow regime maps and slug frequency analysis have a significant impact. The obtained pressure sensor results indicate that the experimental setup could not provide high-frequency and high-resolution data; nevertheless, wavelet decomposition and wavelet norm entropy were calculated. It offered recognizable flow characteristics for bubble, bubble-elongated bubble, and slug flow patterns. Therefore, this study can provide deep insight into intricate multiphase flow patterns, and the wavelet could potentially be applied for flow analysis in oil and gas pipelines.

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