Premium
Wavy‐to‐slug flow transition in slightly inclined gas–liquid pipe flow
Author(s) -
Grolman Eric,
Commandeur Niels C. J.,
de Baat Eduard C.,
Fortuin Jan M. H.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690420402
Subject(s) - tetradecane , slug flow , flow (mathematics) , mechanics , materials science , inclination angle , thermodynamics , two phase flow , chemistry , geometry , physics , mathematics , organic chemistry
A process‐engineering model is presented for the stratified‐wavy‐to‐intermittent (SW–I) flow‐pattern transition in slightly inclined gas–liquid pipe flow. The main parameter for predicting (in) stability of wavy flow in inclined pipes is the average liquid holdup, which was found to reach a maximum, critical value at flow‐pattern transition. Observed values of the critical liquid holdup vary between 0.07 and 0.42, depending on pipe diameter, angle of inclination and transport properties of the gas–liquid system. Measurements were performed in transparent glass pipes of 26‐ and 51‐mm dia., at ten angles of inclination (0.1° ≤ β ≤ 6.0°), using air/water and air/tetradecane (n‐C 14 H 30 ) systems at atmospheric pressure. Flow‐pattern maps are presented for selected angles of inclination, showing excellent agreement between predicted and observed flow‐pattern boundaries.