Precise Evaluation of Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow Pattern in a Narrow Rectangular Channel with Stereology Method

• Main Authors: Maciej Masiukiewicz, Stanisław Anweiler
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: two-phase flow; air–water; flow pattern; visualization; image analysis; stereology
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/11/3180

The drive to increase the efficiency of processes based on two-phase flow demands the better precision and selection of boundary conditions in the process’ control. The two-phase flow pattern affects the phenomena of momentum, heat, and mass transfer. It becomes necessary to shift from its qualitative to quantitative evaluation. The description of the stationary structure has long been used in structural studies applied to metals and alloys. The description of a gas–liquid two-phase mixture is difficult because it changes in time and space. This paper presents a study of the precise determination of two-phase flow patterns based on stereological parameters analysis. The research area is shown against the flow map proposed by other researchers. The experiment was taken in the thin clear channel with dimensions of W = 50 × H = 1200 × T = 5 mm. The test method is based on the visualization of a two-phase air–water adiabatic flow pattern in the rectangular channel where superficial air velocities ranging from 0.006 to 0.044 m/s and the superficial water velocity ranged from 0.011 to 1.111 m/s. A high-speed camera was used for visualization. Images were analyzed with the use of stereological techniques. The study included the classification of structures according to generally accepted two-phase flow regime nomenclature for upwards co-current gas–liquid flow in a vertical rectangular channel. The result of the research was the determination of the stereological parameters’ changes with reference to the two-phase mixture flow hydrodynamics. The results were presented as waveform fluctuations in the values of stereological factors such as the volume fraction <i>V_V</i>, interfacial surface <i>S_V</i>, number of objects <i>N_V</i>, mean chord <i>l′_m</i> and the free distance <i>λ</i>. The description of how these parameters change with changes in phase fluxes is also presented. These waveforms help to distinguish the transient flow regimes, which allow for the automatic adjustment of the process stability. The authors found templates of the stereological parameters’ dependencies for flow pattern recognition. The research demonstrates wide possibilities of stereological methods’ application for the analysis of the two-phase gas–liquid process. The stereological model of two-phase pattern control enables the identification of process disorders.