Benchmarking of the five-sensor probe method for a measurement of an interfacial area concentration

Interfacial area concentration (IAC) is one of the most important parameters in the two-phase flow models. Five-sensor probe method is a useful measurement technique to measure an IAC. It is essentially based on the four-sensor probe method but it is improved by adapting one more sensor. The passing types of the interfaces through the sensors are classified into four categories and independent methods are applied to the interfaces belonging to each category. To verify the applicability of the five-sensor probe method, benchmarking tests are performed for a rectangular visual channel by using the photographic method. The bubble velocity, void fraction, and Sauter mean diameter measured by the probe are also benchmarked. This paper also includes the design of the five-sensor conductivity probe, the IAC measurement method, the signal processing procedure of the probe signal and the data analysis method by photography.