DETAILED EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERISATION OF GAS-LIQUID TWO-PHASE SLUG FLOW IN HORIZONTAL PIPES

Two phase flow occurs in many applications in industry, mainly in the transport of mixtures in pipes. The identification of these patterns is of fundamental importance in the design of piping systems and equipments. In this scenario, this work proposes an experimental study to identify multiphase flow patterns of water and air in horizontal tubes. The study was developed using an experimental circuit of 26 mm diameter and 9.2 m length pipe, at Thermal Sciences Lab at Federal Technological University of Parana. To characterize the parameters one used an intrusive mesh electrodes sensor, a tomographic technique that allows details of the distribution of phases with good temporal and special resolution. Tests were conducted using several experimental settings of water and gas superficial flows, mostly with slug flow characteristics. Measurements were compared to models and the temporal void fraction series were analyzed to produce bubble velocity and frequency information, showing the characteristics for each two-phase pattern.