Statistical characteristics of two-phase gas-liquid flow in a vertical microchannel

This paper presents an experimental study of the structure of an upward gas-liquid flow in a vertical microchannel with a cross-sectional dimension of 0.67 × 2.00 mm and a length of 0.5 m. The tests were performed in the ranges of reduced rates of nitrogen 0.04–11.00 m/sec and water 0.07–0.41 m/sec. Using the method of two-beam laser scanning, we identified the main flow regimes (slug-bubble, slug, transient, emulsion, and annular) and determined the statistical characteristics of the two-phase flow. A map of flow regimes was constructed, the dependence of slug velocity on the reduced mixture velocity was obtained, and the friction factor for an upward gas-liquid flow in a microchannel was measured.