An experimental study of gas-liquid slug flow

Experimental measurements were carried out for upward gas-liquid slug flow in a 50.8 mm diameter pipe. Parallel conductance wires were used to distinguish the Taylor bubbles and liquid slugs and to determine translation velocities and lengths, an electrochemical probe provided the magnitude and direction of the wall shear stress and a radio-frequency local probe was used for the axial and radial distribution of voidage in the liquid slugs. Data are reported over wide range of flow conditions covering slug flow and into the churn flow pattern. Comparison with the Fernandes model predictions are presented. Numerical simulation of slug flow provided information on the structure of flow in a liquid slug and, in particular, on the process of mixing behind a Taylor bubble.List of symbols D pipe diameter - f Taylor bubble frequency - F _Gi (x) gas existence function for i-th liquid slug - g gravitational acceleration - l _A distance for the wall shear stress reversal in a liquid slug - l _B distance for the wall shear stress reversal in a Taylor bubble region - l _LS length of a liquid slug - l _TB length of a Taylor bubble - n number of samples in an ensemble - u axial velocity - U _M superficial mixture velocity (U _SG + U_SL) - U _N translation velocity of the leading Taylor bubble - U _NLS average translation velocity of liquid slugs - U _NTB average translation velocity of Taylor bubbles - U _OT overtaking velocity of the trailing Taylor bubble - U _SG superficial gas velocity - U _SL superficial liquid velocity - v radial velocity - w (y) velocity profile at the inlet to a liquid slug - x axial coordinate - y radial coordinate - void fraction - _LS void fraction in a liquid slug - =l _TB /(l_TB + l_LS) - density - surface tension - shear stress - saturation ratio, = _w / g h - ensemble average