Two-phase interactions through turbulent events as described by fluid–particle correlations

Abstract

An experimental investigation of a vertical upward, two-phase pipe flow was undertaken to measure kinematic parameters of the fluid and solid phases. The kinematic parameters included Reynolds stress distributions based on quadrant analyses that provided insight in understanding the behavior of two-phase kinematic correlation profiles. The data collected was based on a two-color digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) technique that simultaneously measured the velocity fields of the fluid and solid phases. From quadrant analysis results, differences in Reynolds stress quadrant profiles between the single- and two-phase conditions were observed near the wall in the range 0.8> r/R>0.55, corresponding to wall distances between 35 and 75 viscous lengths ( y+). Correlation coefficients between the two phases were then calculated, using the fluctuating velocity components of each phase. The extent of the interaction between the two phases was tracked by the changing correlation values versus distance from the wall. The correlation of the fluid and solid phase velocities was highest in the core region of the pipe ( y+∼120), where the effect of turbulent events is reduced; low correlation coefficient values were found at y+<75, where differences of magnitudes, inflection points, etc. of burst and sweep event quadrant analysis profiles were observed. The extent of the influence of wall dynamic turbulent events on the solid phase was observed both by the differences in the relative Reynolds stress quadrant profiles and, more readily, by the changing values of two-phase axial and radial correlation coefficients determined from the simultaneous fluid and solid fluctuating velocities measured by the two-color DPIV methodology. These changing values of the correlation coefficients across the tube reflect the different responses of low inertia (fluid tracers) and high inertia (solid phase glass spheres) particles to the turbulent events. Similar profiles of the axial and radial correlation coefficients were observed, indicating that for the geometry and flow conditions considered, one velocity component of each phase was sufficient to track the spatial extent of turbulent event effects and their interactions with the fluid and solid phases. It is found that the two-color DPIV methodology and two-phase correlation results can give critical insight into the performance of thermal-fluid processes, as burst and sweep events have a large impact on the kinematics and dynamics of particles in the two-phase flow.