Characteristics of developing vertical bubbly flow under normal and microgravity conditions

Abstract

The axial development of the void fraction profile, interfacial area concentration and Sauter mean bubble diameter of adiabatic nitrogen–water bubbly flows in a 9 mm-diameter pipe were measured using stereo image processing under normal and microgravity conditions. The flow measurements were performed at four axial locations (axial distance from the inlet, z normalized by the pipe diameter, D, z/ D = 5, 20, 40 and 60) and with various flows: superficial gas velocity of 0.00840–0.0298 m/s, and superficial liquid velocity of 0.138–0.914 m/s. The effect of gravity on radial distribution of bubbles and the axial development of two-phase flow parameters is discussed in detail based on the obtained database and visual observation. Following Serizawa–Kataoka’s phase distribution pattern criteria under normal gravity conditions, the phase distribution pattern map was developed. Similar to normal gravity two-phase flows, wall, core and intermediate void peak patterns are observed under microgravity conditions but a transition void distribution pattern is not observed in the current experimental conditions. The data obtained in the current experiment are expected to contribute to the benchmarking of CFD simulation of phase distribution pattern and interfacial area concentration in forced convective pipe flow under microgravity conditions.