EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SLUG FLOW IN VERTICAL DUCTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISPERSED BUBBLES THROUGH IMAGE ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n57-085Keywords:
Slug Pattern, Two-Phase Flow, Taylor BubbleAbstract
Two-phase slug flow is widely observed in industrial applications, especially in oil and gas production and transportation systems. In this regime, the interaction between Taylor bubbles and smaller-scale dispersed bubbles significantly influences the local hydrodynamics, modifying the liquid film behavior, interface morphology, and wake structure. In this study, a detailed experimental characterization of air-water flow in a vertical duct was performed using high-speed filming. The experimental methodology included high-speed filming for qualitative analysis of the interfaces. The images revealed regions of non-uniform distribution of dispersed bubbles, as well as collision, deformation, and coalescence phenomena. The results showed that the presence of small-scale bubbles significantly alters the flow around the Taylor bubble, reducing the intensity of recirculations in the wake and modifying the velocity profile in the liquid film. The results presented contribute to the understanding of the hydrodynamics of the slug pattern and provide an experimental basis for the validation of multiphase numerical models.
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