Experimental study of two-phase flow patterns through an inclined rectangular channel with horizontal and vertically upward directions

Abstract

In this paper, an experiment is carried out to recognize the flow pattern and to measure the void fraction of gas–liquid two-phase flow in an upward inclined channel (horizontally to vertically upward). The experiments are performed in a 30-m channel with dimensions of 100 × 150-mm utilizing air and water as a fluid mixture. Three flow patterns, including slug, churn, or annular-mist flow are observed in the vertical section. It was determined that upstream impacts influence the interactions as well as momentum transfer among the two phases. Also, the amount of backward flow consequence of the formation of counter-current flow across the vertical section is specified by downstream impacts. The outstanding regime of flow in the vertical section was from the churn flow regime. The flow regime through the first horizontal section is classified into two parts: the fully developed part and the inlet bend section which is affected by disturbance pursued by the mixer and vertical section.

Keywords

• Flow regime
• Two-phase flow
• Vertical section
• Rectangular channel
• Slug frequency