The research on the interfacial area transport equation in rectangular channels: Interfacial characteristics distribution and bubbles interaction mechanism

Abstract

The interfacial area transport equation (IATE) is employed to describe the evolution of interfacial structure and evaluate the interfacial area concentration of two-phase flow. However, the interaction mechanisms among bubbles change in different rectangular channels, significantly impacting interfacial characteristics and source terms in IATE. In order to study the interface characteristics and mechanism of bubble interaction in rectangular channels with different gap sizes, an experimental study was conducted on the upward mixture flow of air and water in an adiabatic vertical channel under atmospheric pressure. Two channels with cross-sections of 4 × 66 mm and 8 × 66 mm were selected. The superficial velocities of water and air were 0.5–3 and 0–1.12 m/s, respectively, almost at the transitional region of bubbly to slug flow. Flat electrodes and the four-sensor probes measured the interfacial characteristics. This study analyzes the development of interface and mechanism of interaction among bubbles. The result shows that the evolution in the distribution of void fraction and interfacial area concentration significantly depends on the flow regime, flow rate, and cross-sectional geometric size of channels. Under the condition of a lower liquid flow rate, the gap size of the channel plays a vital role in the efficiency of bubble coalescence, influencing the mechanisms of the random collision and wake entrainment among bubbles. However, the interfacial parameter distribution under higher liquid rate conditions is dominated by turbulence intensity and flow regime, and the mechanisms of bubble interaction become identical. Finally, the mechanisms of interaction among bubbles (random collision and wake entrainment) are analyzed based on the development of interfacial characteristics. In a word, based on the conclusions specified in this research, the new models of source terms of ITAE in rectangular channels will be predictably established in the future.