Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flow physics of upward cocurrent gas-liquid annular flow in a vertical small diameter tube

  • Published:
Microgravity - Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, a steady RNG k-ε model, in conjunction with enhanced wall treatment method, was applied to the gas core in order to simulate the flow physics of annular two-phase flow. The model incorporated a physical model of wave characteristics and included the liquid entrainment influence on the flow. Based on the simulation results, flow features in the gas core were quantitatively presented and a model of the liquid entrainment mechanism was proposed. In addition, a parametric study was conducted to determine the impact of changing wave velocity, pressure, and gravitational force on the liquid film flow. The results were validated using a large set of experimental data at normal and microgravity conditions. Also, the law of the wall was applied to previously-collected experimental data. Analysis yielded different flow features of the liquid film at microgravity and normal gravity conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference

  1. Jayanti, S., Hewitt, G.F.: Hydrodynamics and Heat Transfer in Wavy Annular Gas-Liquid Flow: a Computational Fluid Dynamics Study. Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, vol. 40, no. 10, p. 2445 (1997).

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Wongwises, S., Naphon, P.: Heat-Mass Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Two-Phase Countercurrent Annular Flow in a Vertical Tube. Int. Comm. Heat Mass Transfer, vol. 25, no. 6, p. 819 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kishore, B.N., Jayanti, S.: A Multidimensional Model for Annular Gas-Liquid Flow. Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 59, no. 17, p. 3577 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhu, Zh.: A Study of the Interfacial Features of Gas-Liquid Annular Two-Phase Flow. Master thesis, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  5. MacGillivary, R.: Gravity and Density Effects on Annular Flow Film Thickness and Pressure Drop. Master thesis, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  6. MacGillivray, R. andGabriel, K.S.: A Study of Annular Flow Characteristics in Microgravity and Hypergravity Conditions, Acta Astronautica, vol. 53, p. 289 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. MacGillivray, R andGabriel, K.S.: Annular Flow Film Characteristics in Variable Gravity, “Microgravity Transport Processes in Fluid, Thermal, Biological, and Material Sciences”, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., vol. 974, p.306 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Asali, J.C., Hanratty, T.J., Andreussi, P.: Interfacial Drag and Film Height for Veritcal Annular Flow. AIChE Journal, vol. 31, no. 6, p. 895 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hall-Taylor, N., Hewitt, G.F., Lacey, P.M.C.: The Motion and Frequency of Large Disturbance Waves in Annular Two-Phase Flow of Air-Water Mixtures. Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 18, p. 537 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hewitt, G.F., Lovegrove, P.C.: Frequency and Velocity Measurements of Disturbance Waves in Annular Two-Phase Flow. AKAEA Report AERE-R4304 (1969).

  11. Asali, J.C., Hanratty, T.J.: Ripples Generated on a Liquid Film at High Gas Velocities. Int. J. of Multiphase Flow, vol. 19, issue 2, p. 229 (1993).

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Hewitt, G.F., Hall-Taylor, N.S.: Annular Two-Phase Flow. Pergamon Press, Oxford, (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ohba, K., Nagae, K.: Characteristics and Behavior of the Interfacial Wave on the Liquid Film in a Vertically Upward Air-Water Two-Phase Annular Flow. Nuclear Engineering and Design, vol. 141, issues 1–2, p. 17 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Patankar, S.V., Liu, C.H., Sparrow, E.M.: Fully Developed Flow and Heat Transfer in Ducts Having Streamwise-Periodic Variations of Cross-Sectional Area. Transactions of the ASME, vol. 99, p.180 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Barbosa, J.R., Jr,Hewitt, G.F., König, G., Richardson, S.M.: Liquid Entrainment, Droplet Concentration and Pressure Gradient at the Onset of Annular Flow in a Vertical Pipe. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, vol. 28, p. 943 (2002).

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. Dukler, A.E., Wicks M., III,Cleveland, R.G.: Frictional Pressure Drops in Two-Phase Flow. AIChE J., vol.10, issue 1, p. 44 (1964).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Choudhury, D.: Introduction to the Renormalization Group Method and Turbulence Modeling. Fluent Inc., Technical Memorandum TM-107, (1993).

  18. Modeling Turbulence, User’s Guide of FLUENT 6.18 Documentation, Fluent Inc., (2005).

  19. Pope, S.B.: Turbulent Flows. Cambridge University Press, New York, (2000).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  20. Whalley, P.B.: Boiling, Condensation, and Gas-Liquid Flow. Clarendon press, Oxford, (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  21. White, F.M.: Fluid Mechanics (4th edition). Boston, McGraw-Hill, U.S.A, (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bhaskaran, R.: Fluent Tutorial: Turbulent Pipe Flow. Cornell University, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, U.S.A, (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Whalley, P.B.: Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Wang, Z.L., Gabriel, K.S. andZhu, Z.: The Effect of Gravity on the Features of the Interfacial Waves in Annular Two-Phase Flow. Microgravity Science and Technology, vol. XV, issue 3, p.19 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research & Graduate Programs, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, L1H 7K4, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

    Huawei Han & Kamiel Gabriel (Associate Provost)

Authors
  1. Huawei Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kamiel Gabriel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kamiel Gabriel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Han, H., Gabriel, K. Flow physics of upward cocurrent gas-liquid annular flow in a vertical small diameter tube. Microgravity Sci. Technol 18, 27–38 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02870980

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02870980

Keywords

Search

Navigation