Drag Coefficient and Two-Phase Friction Multiplier on Tube Bundles Subjected to Two-Phase Cross-Flow

Abstract

An approximate analytical model for upward two-phase cross-flow through horizontal bundles, to predict drag coefficient on a cylinder and two-phase Euler number, has been developed. To verify the model, two sets of experiments were performed for various pitch mass fluxes of air-water mixture with void fraction. The experiments were undertaken with rotated triangular array of cylinders. The pitch to diameter ratio is 1.5 and the cylinder diameter 38 mm. The void fraction model proposed by Feenstra et al. (2000) is utilized to estimate the void fraction for the cross-flow in the tube bundle. An important variable on the drag coefficient is the two-phase friction multiplier. An empirical formulation of non dimensional pressure drop (Euler number) for single phase flow in tube bundles was proposed by Zukauskas et al. (1988) and two-phase friction multiplier in duct flow was formulated by various researchers. Considering the formulations, the present model was developed. It is found that Marchaterre’s model (1961) for two-phase friction multiplier is applicable to air-water mixtures. The analytical results agree well with experimental drag coefficients and Euler numbers in air-water mixtures for a sufficiently wide range of pitch mass fluxes and qualities. This model will allow researcher to provide analytical estimates of the drag coefficient, which is related to two-phase damping.