Two-phase flow is a term covering the interacting flow of two phases (gas, liquid, or solid) where the interface between the phases is influenced by their motion.
Introduction
Single-phase flow can be classified according to the external geometry of the flow channel as well as the 'character' of the flow; i.e., laminar( following streamlines) or turbulent (exhibiting fluctuations and chaotic motions). In contrast multiphase flow is classified according to the internal phase distributions or "flow patterns" or "regimes".
Introduction
For a two-phase mixture of a gas or vapor and a liquid flowing together in a channel, different internal flow geometries or structures can occur depending on the size or orientation of the flow channel, the magnitudes of the gas and liquid flow parameters, the relative magnitudes of these flow parameters, and on the fluid properties of the two phases
Introduction
VOID FRACTION,
SLIP RATIO,
PHASE VELOCITY, It is the volume flux divided by the crosssectional area covered by the phase.
SUPERFICIAL VELOCITY, It is the volume flux divided by the total cross-sectional area of the tube.
Nomenclature
In gas-liquid two phase flow, a plane normal to the axis of the channel will probably cut many interfaces. Fortunately, however, the distribution falls into a number of characteristic patterns which can be predicted from the independent variables of the system such as the flow rates of each phase and their physical properties. It is necessary to define the regimes independently for vertical and horizontal flow.
1. Bubble Flow- Here the gas phase is distributed in discrete bubbles within a liquid continuum. 2. Slug Flow- When the concentration of bubbles in bubble flow becomes high, bubble coalescence occurs and, progressively, the bubble diameter approaches that of the tube. Once this approaches, the slug-flow (or plug-flow) regime is entered with the characteristics bullet shaped bubbles
2 Phase flow patterns Vertical Flow
For horizontal flow, the main complicating feature is the gravitational forces act on the liquid phase causing it to be displaced towards the bottom of the channel. The various regimes are Bubble Flow- The bubbles tend to flow at the top of the tube.
Horizontal Flow
Plug flow- Bullet shape bubbles occur, but they tend to move along in a position closer to the top of the tube. Stratified flow- Gravitational spread is complete. Liquid flows along the bottom of the tube and gas along the top part. Wavy flow- As the gas velocity is increased in stratified flow, large surface waves are formed on the gas liquid interface giving the wavy flow regime.
Slug flow- As the gas velocity is further increased in the wavy flow region, the waves eventually become high enough to reach the top of the channel. Annular flow- As the gas velocity increases still further the slugs become pierced with a gas core and the flow becomes annular with a thicker film at the bottom of the channel owing to gravitational effects.
Horizontal Flow
between gas and liquid phases as well as between any multiphase mixture and the external boundaries depends on these internal flow geometries and interfacial area; hence is dependent on flow-pattern. For instance, the relationships for pressure drop and heat transfer are likely to be different for a dispersed flow consisting of bubbles in a liquid (bubbly flow) than for a separated flow consisting of a liquid film on a channel wall with a central gas core (annular flow).
2 Phase flow patterns Need to Study
models for mass, momentum and energy transfer, together with appropriate flow-pattern transition criteria. However, the central task is to predict which flowpattern will exist under any set of operating conditions as well as to predict the value of characteristic fluid and flow parameters (e.g. bubble or droplet size) at which the transition from one flow-pattern to another will take place.
2 Phase flow patterns Need to Study
The usual way of presenting results of observations of flow patterns is to plot them on a graph whose axes represent the flow rates of the two phases; an alternative is to plot total mass flux on one axis and the mass fraction of the flow which is vapor or gas on the other axis. When all the observations have been recorded, lines are drawn on the graph to represent the boundaries between the various regimes of flow. The resultant diagram is called a flow regime map.
2 Phase flow patterns Flow Regime Maps
flows.
The resultant flow diagram at 1000 p.s.i.a.
is shown-
against
and are the mass fluxes (lb/h ft2) of liquid and gas phases.
viscosity A and W refer to the corresponding values for air and water at atmospheric pressure.
2 Phase flow patterns Flow Regime Maps
VERTICAL FLOW Discussion applies to the case of vertical upwards adiabatic flow
The random motion of the bubbles will lead to bubble collisions resulting in coalescence of the two bubbles. Eventually the bubble size will become such that the bubbles begin to have a cross-sectional area which approaches that of the channel. Radovcich and Moissis considered a cubic lattice of bubbles and showed that bubble collision frequency is proportional to
The following observations can be made: At very low void fractions the collision frequency may tend to be zero. Surface contaminants prevent coalescence of bubbles even if they approach one another, for example, froth produced by addition of a surfactant. In froths bubble flow can exist up to a very high void fractions (0.9 and above). At high velocity the large bubbles may be broken down by turbulence and also, the residence time in the channel may be insufficient for enough bubble coalescence to occur to give the onset of slug flow.
Flow Pattern Transitions
If the upwards gas velocity is gradually increased in falling film region, we enter a region in which both climbing and falling film flow are occurring simultaneously. The transition to this region is called Flooding. If the gas velocity is now reduced, a point will be reached at which the liquid phase, in addition to flowing upwards, begins to creep down the tube wall from the injection point. This transition point is called Flow Reversal point.
When the gas velocity in the bubble and the liquid flow rate in the film around the bubble are such that the conditions for flooding are satisfied, then the bubble will break down and the transition to churn flow will take place.
The following empirical relations are for moderate tube diameter and liquids with low viscosity, specifically when dimensionless * is less than 10-4 where * is
Rise velocity of a vapour bubble for slug flow in a stagnant liquid is given by
The volume flux and bubble rise velocity at transition is expressed empirically
where
Slug flow is generally associated with the void fraction less than 0.8.
Flow Pattern Transitions
The transition of flow reversal point can be associated with the lower limit of annular flow. Wallis suggested the representation of the transitions in terms of the dimensionless groups:
Wallis has found that the critical gas velocity at the flow reversal point can be characterized by the criterion
This criterion may be used to give an approximate prediction of Churn flow to annular transition. He found out that the transition was not appreciably affected by the liquid flow rate.
Flow Pattern Transitions
Haberstroh and Griffith found out that the transition depends on the liquid flow rate and gave the following correlation:
The wispy annular region usually corresponds to the region where and This transition is difficult to distinguish visually. For steam-water flow at 34.5 bar and 69 bar, transition takes place at Vf = 1.05 m/s and 1.35 m/s respectively.
The regime that will exist in a two phase flow is guided by several factors like flow rates of each phase, their physical properties, orientation of the tube as well as the manner in which the phases are introduced in the system. We need to estimate the flow pattern as well as the flowpattern transition for using the appropriate mass, momentum and energy transfer models.
Conclusion
Boiling Heat Transfer and Two Phase Flow, L.S.Tong and Y.S.Tang Two Phase Flow and Heat Transfer, Butterwoth and Hewitt Annular Two-Phase Flow, G.F.Hewitt and N.S. Hall-Taylor Two Phase Flow and Heat Transfer, P.B.Whalley
References