TWO-PHASE FLOW REGIMES IN SHORT HORIZONTAL RECTANGULAR MICROCHANNELS

Abstract

Laser-induced fluorescence and Schlieren techniques have been used for study of gas−liquid flow inside the channels with the heights of 0.1 and 0.2 mm. The two-phase flow regimes and transition between them are studied. The classical regimes of two-phase flow in the channel (bubble, stratified, churn, and annular) were detected. New gas jet-drop regime was identified in the short horizontal rectangular channels. Experimental information allows us to define the characteristics of the churn regime and to determine precisely the boundaries between the regimes of the two-phase flows. It was shown, that with channel height decreasing, the area of the jet-drop flow regime decreases. The area of the churn regime increases. With channel width increasing, the area of the churn regime increases also.