Fundamental data on the gas–liquid two-phase flow in minichannels

Abstract

We report on the results of investigations into the characteristics of an air–water isothermal two-phase flow in minichannels, that is, in capillary tubes with inner diameters of 1 mm, 2.4 mm, and 4.9 mm, also in capillary rectangular channels with an aspect ratio of 1 to 9. The directions of flow were vertical upward, horizontal and vertical downward. Based on the authors 15 years of fundamental research into the gas–liquid two-phase flows in circular tubes and rectangular channels, we summarized the characteristics of the flow phenomena in a minichannel with special attention on the flow patterns, the time varying holdup and the pressure loss. The effects of the tube diameters and aspect ratios of the channels on these flow parameters and the flow patterns were investigated. Also the correlations of the holdup and the frictional pressure drop were proposed.