The effect of initial flow velocity on the liquid film thickness in micro tube accelerated slug flow

Abstract

Liquid film thickness is an important parameter for predicting boiling and condensation heat transfer in micro tubes. In the present study, the effect of initial flow velocity on the liquid film thickness in accelerated flows under adiabatic condition is experimentally investigated. The laser focus displacement meter is used to measure the initial liquid film thickness. Circular tube with inner diameter of 1mm was used for the test tube, and water, ethanol and FC-40 are used as working fluids. When the flow is accelerated from small initial velocities under small Bond number condition, initial liquid film thickness is identical to that of steady flow at small capillary numbers, and then deviates from the steady condition and eventually follows that of accelerated flow from zero initial velocity as capillary number is increased. When the flow is accelerated from large initial velocities, initial liquid film thickness deviates from the steady condition earlier and starts to follow that of accelerated flow from zero initial velocity as capillary number is increased. It is found that the initial flow velocity cannot be neglected in accelerated flows especially at large initial flow velocities and at large Bond numbers. Finally, an empirical correlation is proposed for the initial liquid film thickness of accelerated flows that accounts for the initial flow velocities.