Investigation of the Effect of Fluids Superficial Velocity on Initiation and Development of Slug Flow in a Horizontal Hydraulics Pipe
2020
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of fluids superficial velocity on the
characteristics of two-phase slug flow in a horizontal hydraulics pipe covering slug flow
initiation and development. Air and water were employed as the working fluids. Slug
flow characteristics were visually observed at 25D and 200D in a 19 mm internal
diameter of acrylic pipe for the initiation and fully developed slug flow conditions,
respectively. Flow visualization was taken using high speed video cameras at 400 fps
and then analyzed using image processing method. Based on the flow pattern
characteristics, several slug flow initiation mechanisms were obtained. Under the
investigated conditions, at low to medium air superficial velocity (JG) with low to high
water superficial velocity (JL), slug flow initiation mechanisms consisted of wave
growth, hydraulic jump, blockage, and slug decaying. While wave initiation, wave
formation, disturbance, wave coalescence, and incompletely developed slug
mechanisms were observed at medium to high JG with low to high JL. After slug flow
was fully developed, it was found that the higher the water superficial velocity resulted
in lower void fraction and higher slug frequency. In the meantime, pressure drop and
liquid slug velocity increased considerably with the increase of both JG and JL. Maximum
pressure drop of 8.35 kPa/m occurred at JL of 2.00 m/s and JG of 3.76 m/s. The highest
slug frequency of 6.67 1/s was observed at JL of 2.00 m/s and JG of 2.12 m/s. This
information is important for designing fluid flow in horizontal hydraulics pipes and for
consideration in predicting the development of the slug flow in order to avoid the
negative impact of slug flow in industrial applications.
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