FLOW REGIMES IN 2-PHASE GAS-LIQUID FLOW

Experimental data were determined for co-current air-water horizontal flow in a 0.0935 m.i.d. pipe. The flow patterns were identified by a combination of visual/video observations, the pressure fluctuation characteristics and a detailed examination of the pressure loss and holdup data. The results together with previous work at 0.0454 m i.d. were used to test existing flow regime maps. Several of the maps did not predict correctly the flow regimes for the two diameters. Theoretical and empirical models developed for the prediction of flow pattern transitions were also proved to be deficient in handling changes in physical properties and geometry. Thus, a need was shown to exist to develop a more satisfactory method of phase transition prediction.