Visualization and research of gas-liquid two phase flow structures in cylindrical channel

AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, Department of Thermal and Fluid Flow Machines, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow

^* Corresponding author: stefanski@agh.edu.pl

Abstract

Two-phase flows are commonly found in many industries, especially in systems, where efficient and correct functioning depend on specific values of flow parameters. In thermal engineering and chemical technology the most popular types of two-phase mixture are gas-liquid or liquid-vapour mixtures. Bubbles can create in flow different structures and determine diverse properties of flow (velocity of phase, void fraction, fluctuations of pressure, pipe vibrations, etc.). That type of flow is difficult to observe, especially in liquid-vapour mixture, where vapour is being made by heating the medium. Production of vapour and nucleation process are very complicated issues, which are important part of two-phase flow phenomenon. Gas-liquid flow structures were observed and described with figures, but type of structure depends on many parameters. Authors of this paper made an attempt to simulate gas-liquid flow with air and water. In the paper there was presented specific test stand built to observe two-phase flow structures, methodology of experiment and conditions which were maintained during observation. The paper presents also the structures which were observed and the analysis of results with reference to theoretical models and diagrams available in literature.