Liquid Layer Characteristics in Stratified Gas-Liquid Downflow: A Study of Transition to Wavy Flow

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to study the transition from the smooth to the wavy stratified flow regime for various pipe inclination angles and liquid physical properties. The accurate characterization of both the structure of the gas-liquid interface and the flow field inside the liquid layer can improve our physical understanding of the mechanisms involved in the evolution of waves in stratified gas-liquid flow. To study the influence of liquid properties on the mechanisms promoting wave formation, several liquids are used (i.e., water, Tween®, and aqueous-glycerin solutions). The experiments are conducted in a 24 mm i.d. pipe for various inclination angles (1–9°) with respect to the horizontal position. Liquid layer thickness time records are acquired using a parallel-wire conductance technique from which mean layer thickness, rms, and power spectra of the fluctuations as well as wave celerities are calculated. Measurements of the axial velocity component in the liquid layer using laser-Doppler anemometry are also reported. Statistical analysis of such local liquid velocity data in conjunction with the liquid layer characteristics reveals a strong interplay between wave evolution at the interface and the flow field development inside the liquid layer. Finally, results of numerical calculations using a CFD code are obtained to facilitate data interpretation.