Abstract
Multiphase flow curved microchannels have shown enormous applicability in sustainable energy applications such as compact heat exchanger, process intensification, and solar thermal energy storage. This study investigates gas–liquid flow regimes in 1 mm diameter, circular, glass microchannel having U-bends. Ethylene glycol mixture (50% water) and nitrogen are used as liquid and gas phases. Images of various flow regimes are captured using a high-speed camera with high-intensity LED light. Slug, slug-annular, annular, and churn flow regimes are observed. Bubbles in slug flow regime, move closer to the inner wall of the bend. High-amplitude waves stand at the bend and merge with the next wave in slug-annular flow. However, a new high-amplitude wave shows up after crossing the U-bend. The gas core in annular flow regime moves toward the outer wall of the bend, and only the inner interface contains small ripples. In churn flow, interfaces are observed to be wavy at the curvature. A typical flow regime map is developed on gas and liquid Dean number coordinate $$({\text{De}}_{\text{G}} - {\text{ De}}_{\text{L}} )$$ .
Published Version
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