Bounds on Two-Phase Frictional Pressure Gradient and Void Fraction in Circular Pipes

Abstract

Simple rules are developed for obtaining rational bounds for two-phase frictional pressure gradient and void fraction in circular pipes. The bounds are based on turbulent-turbulent flow assumption. Both the lower and upper bounds for frictional pressure gradient are based on the separate cylinders formulation. For frictional pressure gradient, the lower bound is based on the separate cylinders formulation that uses the Blasius equation to represent the Fanning friction factor while the upper bound is based on the separate cylinders equation that represents well the Lockhart-Martinelli correlation for turbulent-turbulent flow. For void fraction, the lower bound is based on the separate cylinders formulation that uses the Blasius equation to predict the Fanning friction factor while the upper bound is based on the Butterworth relationship that represents well the Lockhart-Martinelli correlation. These two bounds are reversed in the case of liquid fraction (1-α). For frictional pressure gradient, the model is verified using published experimental data of two-phase frictional pressure gradient versus mass flux at constant mass quality. The published data include different working fluids such as R-12, R-22, and Argon at different mass qualities, different pipe diameters, and different saturation temperatures. The bounds models are also presented in a dimensionless form as two-phase frictional multiplier (ϕ l and ϕ g) versus Lockhart-Martinelli parameter ( X) for different working fluids such as R-12, R-22, and air-water and steam mixtures. For void fraction, the bounds models are verified using published experimental data of void fraction versus mass quality at constant mass flow rate. The published data include different working fluids such as steam, R-12, R-22, and R-410A at different pipe diameters, different pressures, and different mass flow rates. It is shown that the published data can be well bounded for a wide range of mass fluxes, mass qualities, pipe diameters, and saturation temperatures.