Yutaka Fukuhara

Measurement of Local Flow Parameters in Vertical Upward Bubbly Flow at Normal- and Micro-Gravity Conditions

This study aims at the measurements of the axial developments of flow parameters such as void fraction profile, interfacial area concentration and Sauter mean diameter of adiabatic nitrogen-water bubbly flows in a 9 mm-diameter pipe by using a stereo image-processing method at normal- and micro-gravity conditions. The flow measurements were performed at four axial locations (axial distance from the inlet normalized by the pipe diameter, z/D = 5, 20, 40 and 60) at various flow conditions of superficial gas velocity (0.00840–0.0298 m/s) and superficial liquid velocity (0.138–0.914 m/s). The effect of gravity on radial distribution of bubbles and the axial developments of two-phase flow parameter was discussed in detail based on the obtained data and the visual observation.Copyright

Effect of Gravity on Phase Distribution Patterns of Bubbly Two-Phase Flow in a Vertical Mini Pipe

In relation to the development of the interfacial area transport equation, a precise database of the axial development of void fraction profile, interfacial area concentration and Sauter mean bubble diameter in an adiabatic nitrogen-water bubbly flow in a 5 mm-diameter mini pipe was constructed for normal and microgravity conditions using stereo image-processing. The flow measurements were performed at four axial locations (axial distance from the inlet normalized by the pipe diameter, z/D = 5.5, 34, 72 and 110) and with various flows: superficial gas velocity of 0.00434–0.0420 m/s, and superficial liquid velocity of 0.239–0.949 m/s. The effect of gravity on radial distribution of bubbles and the axial development of two-phase flow parameters is discussed in detail based on the obtained database and visual observation.© 2010 ASME

Effect of Gravity on Axial Development of Phase Distribution Patterns in Bubbly Two-Phase Flow

The axial development of the void fraction profile, interfacial area concentration and Sauter mean bubble diameter of adiabatic nitrogen-water bubbly flows in a 9 mm-diameter pipe were measured using stereo image processing in normal and microgravity conditions. The effect of gravity and flow conditions on the radial distribution of bubbles and the axial development of the two-phase flow parameter is discussed in detail based on the obtained data. By taking into account normalized parameters based on void peak fraction and void peak intensity in the pipe cross-section, the phase distribution patterns were classified into three types: a wall peak, a core peak and an intermediate peak. Phase distribution pattern maps are presented for vertical upward bubbly flows in normal and microgravity conditions.Copyright

Axial Development of Local Flow Parameters in Bubbly Two-Phase Flow in Normal and Microgravity Conditions

In relation to the development of the interfacial area transport equation, a precise database of the axial development of void fraction profile, interfacial area concentration and Sauter mean bubble diameter in an adiabatic nitrogen-water bubbly flow in a 9 mm-diameter pipe was constructed for normal and microgravity conditions using stereo image-processing. The flow measurements were performed at four axial locations (axial distance from the inlet normalized by the pipe diameter, z/D = 5, 20, 40 and 60) and with various flows: superficial gas velocity of 0.00840–0.0298 m/s, and superficial liquid velocity of 0.138–0.914 m/s. The effect of gravity on radial distribution of bubbles and the axial development of two-phase flow parameters is discussed in detail based on the obtained database and visual observation.Copyright

Effect of Gravity on Flow Characteristics of Developing Vertical Upward Bubbly Flow (1st Report, Measurement of Local Flow Parameter)

In relation to the development of the interfacial area transport equation, axial developments of void fraction profile, interfacial area concentration and Sauter mean diameter of adiabatic nitrogen-water bubbly flows in a 9 mm-diameter pipe were measured by using a stereo image-processing method at normal-and micro-gravity conditions. The flow measurements were performed at four axial locations (axial distance from the inlet normalized by the pipe diameter, z/D=5, 20, 40 and 60) at various flow conditions of superficial gas velocity (0.008 40-0.029 8 m/s) and superficial liquid velocity (0.138-0.914 m/s). The effect of gravity on radial distribution of bubbles and the axial developments of two-phase flow parameter was discussed in detail based on the obtained data and the visual observation.

Visualization Study of Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow in a Hydrophobic Pipe

To evaluate the effect of pipe wall surface wettability on flow characteristics in a vertical upward gas-liquid two-phase flow, a visualization study was performed using an acrylic pipe and a hydrophobic pipe. Such basic flow characteristics as flow patterns, pressure drop and void fraction were investigated in these pipes. In the hydrophobic pipe, an inverted-churn flow regime was observed in a region where the churn flow regime was observed in the acrylic pipe, while a droplet flow regime was observed in the region where an annular flow regime was observed in the acrylic pipe. At a high gas flow rate, the average void fraction in the hydrophobic pipe was higher than in the acrylic pipe. The effect of surface wall wettability on frictional pressure loss was confirmed to be insignificant under the present experimental conditions.Copyright