Liquid Velocity, and Turbulent Intensity Profiles of Upward Bubbly Flow in a Vertical Pipe with Sudden Expansion

Abstract

Experimental study was made on the multu-dimensional behavior of upward gas-liquid two-phase flow through a vartical pipe with an axisymmetric sudden expansion. In this study, the liquid velocity and turbulent intensity along the flow direction in the sudden expansion channel were measured by using a hot-film anemometer for various turbulent flow conditions. The development of the liquid velocity and the turbulent intensity profiles of the sudden expansion showed quite complicated behaviors depending upon the flow rates of gas and liquid phases as well as the bubble size. Especially, it was noted that the turbulent intensity was enhanced near wall region, otherwise suppressed near central axis region due to the void blanket staying at the shear layer in the sudden expansion. These results would become useful data for the development of multi-dimensional analysis in two-phase flow.