Experimental characterization of vertical downward two-phase annular flows using Wire-Mesh Sensor

• Published in: Chemical engineering science 2015-09, Vol.134, p.324-339
• Main Authors: Vieira, Ronald E., Parsi, Mazdak, McLaury, Brenton S., Shirazi, Siamack A., Torres, Carlos F., Schleicher, Eckhard, Hampel, Uwe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Flow visualization; Gas–liquid flow; Phase distribution; Void fraction; Wire-Mesh Sensor
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2015.05.013

Annular two-phase flow has been vastly investigated because of its large and deep involvement in industrial processes, particularly in nuclear engineering and petroleum production facilities. Much effort has been devoted to investigating upward flows involving the flow patterns, void fraction, as well as local interfacial characteristics. However, research for vertical downward two-phase flow, especially of the interfacial characteristics, are comparatively scarce. In order to gain insight on void fraction, interfacial structures and characteristics frequencies, experimental work was performed in downward annular two-phase flow with water and air as process fluids at low pressure conditions. A flow loop, including a 76mm ID, 16.5m long vertical pipe, has been instrumented. A state-of-the-art instrument for two-phase flow measurements based on the fluid conductivity, namely dual Wire-Mesh Sensor (WMS) has been utilized to acquire the experimental data. A total of 43 data points have been acquired at superficial liquid velocities that ranged from 0.005m/s to 0.10m/s and superficial gas velocities that varied from 10m/s to 31m/s. The effects of liquid viscosity on the measured parameters are also investigated using two different viscosities of 1 and 10cP. Analysis of time series void fraction data from the dual Wire-Mesh Sensors allows the determination of cross-sectional averaged void fraction, local time averaged void fraction distribution, liquid phase distribution around the tube periphery, interfacial structure frequencies, pseudo 3D reconstruction as well as Probability Density Function (PDF) and Power Spectral Density (PSD). The experimental results indicate that the interfacial shape and frequencies are significantly altered by the superficial gas velocity. Comparisons between mechanistic model predictions and the acquired experimental data show a maximum absolute average relative error of approximately 7% for the cross-section void fraction. •The amplitude of large waves as well as the small waves is highly variable and intermittent.•Interfacial shape and frequencies are significantly altered by the superficial gas velocity.•The mechanistic model tends to over-predict void fraction values.