CFD Simulation on Circulation within the Liquid Slug under Gas-Liquid Taylor Flow in Circular Capillary

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate the circulation within the liquid slug on gas-liquid Taylor flow in circular capillaries. The velocity profile within liquid slug was studied, the strength of circulation was considered. The separate influences of the gas bubble velocity， Taylor unit length, capillary diameter and liquid film thickness on the internal circulation in liquid slug were investigated. Parabolic velocity distribution inside liquid was obtained and found to in good agreement with the literature report. The strength of circulation was mainly determined by the gas bubble velocity and the liquid film thickness.