TWO-PHASE GAS-LIQUID FLOW IN RECTANGULAR

CHANNELS

LEON TRONIEWSKI* and ROMAN ULBRICH

Heat Technique and Chemical Engineering Department, Opole Technical University, 45-233 Opole,
ul.Oleska 114, Poland

(Received 12 May 1983; accepted 29 June 1983)

Abstract-The results of investigation of hydraulics in a two-phase gas-liquid flow in vertical and

horizontal rectangular channels have been
Flow regime maps have been worked out
mixture flow has been proposed.
The methods applied in a two-phase
investigations, after adopting the correction
and that in pipes.
presented in the paper.
and a method for calculating the pressure drop in a two-phase
flow in pipes have been used to describe the results of
for the difference between the flow in rectangular channels

1. INTRODUCTION It arises from the discussed survey of literature that

A cocurrent two-phase gas and liquid flow often the state of knowledge in the field of a two-phase flow
occurs in various evaporators and installations. In in rectangular channels did not allow the influence of
certain cases (with some type thin film evaporators or the ratio of channel sides as well as the properties of
columns with cocurrent trays) it is advisable to carry components of the two-phase mixture upon the range
out the process in rectangular channels. It is then of occurrence of flow patterns to be determined.
possible to increase the area of heat and mass transfer Iida and Takahashi[q as well as Huhn and Wolf[6]
in relation to multitube apparatus even about 100% studied the pressure drops of two-phase gas-liquid
with the same volume of the apparatus.
The purpose of the present paper was to determine
the range of occurrence of flow patterns in a two-
phase gas-liquid flow and the pressure drop of a
two-phase mixture flowing in rectangular channels.

2. A SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE ka

A two-phase water and steam flow in a vertical
rectangular channel 25.4 x 3.14mm, with the range
of pressure varying from 1.03 to 13.8 MPa, was
investigated by Hosler[l, 21 and he found a consid-
erable effect of pressure on the regions in which the
following flows occurred: bubble, plug and annular
(Fig. 1). Richardson[3] mapped a two-phase water-
air flow in horizontal rectangular channels having IO" 10' 10-l
x '
ratio of sides k = l/2, l/4 and l/S (the longer side of a
a cross-sectional channel was positioned horizon- r&F--_- I I
tally), Fig. 2. From his studies it appears that the
P[MP
influence of the ratio of rectangular channel sides
% f 1.03
upon the range of occurrence of flow patterns is
kg 2 2,07
considerable. Iida and Takahashi[4] investigated a
mzS 3 3,55
water-air mixture flow in a veitical channel with the
103 4 5,52
ratio of sides k = 57 and in horizontal channels for 1
5 9,65
k = l/5&1/8 and they found the existance of the 6 r3,a
same flow in a vertical pipe and they proposed a
common flow regime map. Jones and Zuber[S] deter-
mined the correlation between the distribution func-
tion of actual values of air mass fraction and patterns
of a two-phase water-air flow in a vertical rectan-
-Id3 lo-‘ 10-l
gular channel with the ratio of sides k = 12.
1 b x ’
Fig. 1. Two-phase water-steam flow regime map in vertical
~ -_ -- rectangular channel 25.4 x 3.14 mm, according to Hosler[l];
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. B-bubble, P-plug, A -annular.

7.51
752 L. TRONIEWSKI and R. ULBRICH

replace a pipe diameter D by an equivalent diameter

D, in the dimensionless numbers on which, according
to him, depends the pressure drop of a two-phase
mixture flow in rectangular channels. Hoglund et
al. [8] as well as Janssen and Kervinen [9] investigated
the pressure drops of a water-steam mixture flow
through heated channels. Thus, there has not been
found any satisfactory information as far as the way
of calculation of pressure drops in a two-phase
gas-liquid mixture flow through rectangular channels
is concerned. In consideration of Little material which
is concerned with the investigations of a two-phase
flow in rectangular channels and in the presence of
extensive material dealing with those of the flow in
pipes, the authors decided to take account of the
correction including the geometry of a channel in the
chosen methods that could be treated as universal
ones in a two-phase flow through a pipe.

3. UNIVERSAL METHODS FOR TWO-PHASE FLOW IN A

PIPE

As a result of the analysis of flow pattern maps

Fig. 2. Two-phase water-air flow regime maps in horizontal
rectangular channels, according to Richardson[3]; (a) chan-
nel 50.8 x 12.7 mm, (b) channel 50.8 x 25.4mm, (c) channel
50.8 x 6.35 mm (notation of flow patterns according to Fig.
3.
mixture flow in rectangular channels and they pro-
posed to calculate them in the same manner as those
for the flow in a pipe with an equivalent diameter.
published in the literature and the authors own
investigations[ l&12], universal regime maps of a
two-phase gas-liquid flow in vertical pipes (Fig. 3)
and in horizontal ones (Fig. 4) have been worked out.
On the basis of the analysis of calculation methods
of the pressure drop in a two-phase gas-liquid flow
as carried out in paper[l3], the Lockhart and Mar-
tinelli method[l4] has been adopted as a universal
one.

De=;. whereas rjL, & depend on the parameter

At the same time Huhn and Wolf mention that errors

may reach up to 50%. Friedel[7] also suggests to (3)

Fig. 3. General llow wgime map in two-phase gas-liquid vertical pipe flow (notation of flow patterns
according to Fig. 5).
 Two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular channels 753

Fig. 4. General flow regime map in two-phase gas-liquid horizontal pipe Bow (notation of flow patterns
according to Fig. 5).

A certain modification of the method being very and in a rectangular channel according to [16]
convenient when a computer is used, has been pro-
posed in paper [15] 4k2aAP cm (-1)”
Wr=q-E,=o(2m + 1)’

(4)

In the flow through a pipe, the mean velocity is

M;,= 0.5w, (8)

4L = exp [a, exp (a, In X] for X 2 100. whereas through a rectangular channel

Constants in eqns (5), for various cases of flow are

given in Table 1.
5 = $g-(k)
4. DIFFERENCEBETWEENTHE FLOW lN where
RIKTANGULAR CHANNEL AND THAT IN A PIPE

The flow pattern maps as described in the previous

chapter and the calculation method of the pressure
drop refer to a single-phase llow of each phase
x tgh (?;)I,
Aowing separately through the fully cross-sectional
channel (velocities: wGr,wLrrmass velocity g,, g,, the
Lockhart-Martinelli parameter X). Taking the channel with a rectangular cross-section
In this connection it has been assumed that: the as a pipe with an equivalent diameter
difference between a two-phase flow in a rectangular
channel and that in a pipe results from the same 2ka
D,=-- (11)
relations which occur in a single-phase flow through k+1
a rectangular channel and through a pipe.
and comparing the pressure drop in a pipe and in the
4.1 Single-phase flow rectangular channel
For a single-phase, steady and fully-developed
laminar flow in a pipe, the local velocity is distributed
(12)

2
into:

01
AP t@, 48k’
wp=w, I- ; (13)
[ ( ;Tz ) ,=o,‘(l +k)*f(k)
 Table 1. Value of factors in relation (5). according to (151

kind of flow

t-t t-1 1-t 1-l

ReC, 2100 ReL> 2100 ReG4 2100 Ry> 2100 ReG) 2100 ReL‘< 2100 ReG.2100 Re ,( 2100

1.442234405141 1.250764152382 1.242340822498 9.794209495283.10-'

a0
4.987124154600~10-' 5.59757485996~~1~' 5.351838346275.10-' 5.666477220093.10-'
a1
8, 5.843703063,4Y5.~o-2 6.699986422058.1Q-2 6.968848631602'10-2 9.627530234125~10-2
L
-1.336126166103.10-3 -~.~73698621410~10-3 -4.987204507644*10-3 -4.506788218734~10-5
a3
-4.755690575260.10-4 -6.002645641090.10-4 -5,Ro~so719~990.10-b -1.475254575799.10-3
"Ii
.: . 1L16521209930~10-5 l.2~Y50426484-10'4 1,301135151769.10-4 7.773a50936%.10-5
a5
1.596 I,0192 1,751 2,682
ab
0.4748 0.5025 0.4760 0.9960
a7
118.48 121.75 39.518 302.27
a8
-1.55" -1.554 -1.265 -1.781
a9
 Two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular channels
the authors obtained
W, 3k2
wp 2(1 +k)2f(!C)=W(k).
In order to calculate the pressure drop in a rectan-
gular channel the authors suggest to use the con-
ventional velocity
while the effect of the ratio of the rectangular channel
sides on the profile of local velocity is given in the
form of the correction
when the function f(k) is defined by eqn (10).
After the expansion of function tgh(t) into a
power series and after carrying out computations on
a computer it has been found that relationship (16)
approximated by the equation
gives differences which do not exceed 2% in the range
k = l-20.
It arises from relation (17) that pressure drops in
the flow through a rectangular channel are identical
to those in the flow through a pipe with diameter 0,
but only for the ratio of sides k = 2 (exactly as in
relation (16), for k = 2.13).
The proposed correction w has been defined on the
basis of the analytical solution of the Navier-Stokes
equation for a steady, fully developed laminar flow.
As a result of calculations of the proffile of the
local velocity for a fullydeveloped turbulent flow as
carried out in paper[l7] and making use of the
turbulence model k - t suggested by Jones and
Launder[lS] it has been found that the correction o
may also be used in the range of a turbulent flow with
the accuracy of $5x.
Thus, the authors propose to calculate the pressure
drops of a single-phase flow in a rectangular channel
from relationship
dpTI,*pwz
AL 20,
where
64( Re *) - ’ for Re I 2,100
A*=
0.3164(Re*)-“~25 for Re > 2,100
&ii*_-!-
@)’
755
(14)
P
(15) s
W
F
A
M
(17)
a
Fig. 5. Flow patterns in two-phase gas-liquid flow in
horizontal pipe (a) and in vertical one (b); notation of flow
patterns: 8, bubble; P, plug; S, stratified; W, wavy; F, froth
(slug); A, annular; M, mist.
4.2 Two-phase Jaw in rectangular channels
(a) Pressure drop. Pressure drops in a two-phase
mixture flow through rectangular channels are sug-
gested to be calculated by the Lockhart-Martinelli
method including the difference between a single-
phase flow both in pipes and in rectangular channels.
Thus, relations (3H5) should be applied in calcu-
lations after including eqns (18H21) in them.
(b) Flow regime maps. For the flow in pipes,
universal flow pattern maps have been chosen with
the following coordinate systems
vertical pipes
(22)
horizontal pipes
(19)
Assuming that the differences between the flow in
rectangular channels and that in pipes are described
by the correction W, it was necessary to decide where
(21)
and in what form the correction should be used in the
756 L. TRONIEWSKIand R. ULBIUCH

coordinates in proper flow regime maps. The follow-

ing reasoning was conducted for this purpose.
The flow in vertical channel is axisymmetrical
FG
therefore it is quite reasonable to adopt the one-
dimensional Lockhart-Martinelli model. Substi-
tuting eqn (18) for eqn (2), the authors obtained
(considerations for liquid)
5

AP
,t- P;;L dr,’ (24)
AL
C-1 21”,
R= e b
a
where Fig. 6. Model of two-phase stratified Row: (a) in pipe,
according to Davis and Cheremisinoff(20j; (b) in rectan-
gular channel.
1 t = C(Re:)-” (25)

after transforming
curred, dependent upon the central angle b (Fig. 6a):
AP C PZ-xn
=-1Cn w2_“w”qb,2 (26)
( ‘;iz ) 2F.R 2 D, D,
FL = s (fj - sin cp) (31)
Assuming further that the symmetrical flow of both
phases occurs (flow types t-t or r-l) or that the W= D,sincp (32)
Lockhart-Martinelli parameter does not depend on
the ratio of channel sides, eqn (26) is transformed into
(33)
the form

W ,sflJnP - “j = const (27)

(34)
or
Then they defined equivalent diameters for both
w,!JgA = const. (28) phases

By conducting the same considerations for the gas .&=4F, (35)

phase, the authors obtained PC+ w

wcsw A= const. D
eL
=4F, (36)
PI
Thus, it may be shown that the abscissa in the flow
regime map is independent of k in this case; whereas and phase void fraction
the ratio of channel sides occurs in expression (28).
which is constructed in a similar manner with the R,+ n,_,_$
ordinate of the flow regime map (relation (22)). On (37)
the basis of the above considerations, the following
coordinate system of a flow regime map for vertical They calculated the pressure drop of a two-phase
rectangular channels is proposed mixture flow from relationship

(38)
2F, R

The force of gravity acting upon a two-phase where

mixture flow in horizontal channels brings about the
asymmetrical distribution of phases in relation to the AC= CRe;” (39)
horizontal plane of the symmetry of a channel. For
a stratified gas and liquid flow when the horizontal while
plane is an interfacial surface, a number of attempts
have been made to formulate mathematical models of
Re, = __
WGD,PG
the flow[l%23]. A proposal for the comparison of %T
the stratified two-phase flow in a pipe and in rectan-
gular channels is presented below. whereas the value of an equivalent diameter for the
Davis and Cheremisinoff[ZO] made area and perim- gas phase D,, depends on the liquid void fraction R,
eters of the regions in which particular phases oc- (eqns 31-37). Treating the stratified flow in a rectan-
 Two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular channels 757

gular channel (Fig. 6b) in the same manner they or

obtained
(D&p : ‘: = cOnSt
FL=uy F,=a(b-y) (47)
(41) gGS[-I-
(D,G),

W-a (42) As a result of the carried out calculations it has been

found that for the region where the stratified flow
pL=a+2y pc=n+2(b-y). (43) (Fig. 7) occurs, in the range of k = 0.1-10, with the
accuracy up to f 15% it is permissible to adopt
Analogously as for the stratified flow in a pipe, the
dependence of an equivalent diameter of a gas phase
D,, upon the liquid void fraction RL for rectangular
channels with various ratios of sides k (Fig. 7) was
presented while making use of relationships (35)-(37) By substituting (48) to (47) we obtain
and (41H43). The pressure drop in a rectangular
channel, after substituting relations (39) and (40) to gcs
w nM1 + 4
= const. (49)
relation (38) and after making use of the relationship Lt)

or
cw
is (50)

>1
AP c IIGR giLi;” In the same manner as in the case of vertical channels,
=_-- (45)
dL 2F.R I 2pGR;-n(D<G)‘+n’ the following coordinate system in the flow regime
map for horizontal rectangular channels is proposed
Assuming then that the symmetrical flow of both
phases takes place (in the similar manner as it has
previously been adopted for vertical channels), eqn (51)
(45) may take the form
The given calculation method of the pressure drop
g;,,-2(D,G)1.+n = const. (46) and the usefulness of the proposed coordinate sys-
tems in the flow regime maps have been decided to be
verified on the basis of experimental investigations.

5. EXPERIMENTAL tNVFSTlGATlONS
1 A two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular chan-
nels was studied at the test stand whose scheme, in its
vertical position, is presented in Fig. 8. The main part

Fig. 8. Scheme of installation for investigation of hydraulic

in two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular channels: 1, fan;
0 45 2, blower; 3, mixing chamber; 4, test channel; 5, separator;
% ’ 6, pump; 7, tank, 8, mixer; 9, cooler; 10, heater; 11, heat
Fig. 7. Dependence of hydra&c diameter for gas phase exchanger; 12, gas rotameters; 13, orifice; 14, liquid rota-
upon liquid void fraction in rectangular channels and in meters; hOtatiOn of test points: t, temperature; P, pressure;
pipe. V, volume flux.
758 L. TRONIEWSKIand R. ULBRICH

of the installation was a transparent test channel 4,

with a rectangular cross-section, made of organic
glass, fixed in mixer 3 in the lower part and in
separator 5 in the upper part. Exchanger 11 served
for cooling air to the temperature of the liquid at the
entry into mixer 3. The temperature of liquid was set
by controlling the heating power in heater 10 or by
cooling water flux in cooler 9. h
Investigations were carried out in vertical channels
with the ratio of the sides in the range of l-12 and
in the horizontal channels in the range of 0.1-10
(k < 1 when the shorter side was in its vertical
position). Dimensions of the channels used for the
investigations are included in Table 2. In agreement
with the suggestion presented by Taitel et ul.[25],
channels longer than 50 De were made; L = 1,100 mm
was adopted. In inlet mixer with the perimeter crevice
between the air feeding channel and the test channel
was applied. Pressure tappings for measuring the Fig. Y. Method for measuringpressure drop in two-phase
pressure drop were placed in the test channel at a flow according to Hewitt[26]; notation:
TS, test channel, R,
distance of 300 and 800 mm from the inlet mixer. The rotameter;U-two-phase mixture; A, water from metering
patterns of a two-phase flow were observed along the pump; B, compressed air.
whole length of the test channel and a particular
attention was paid to the zone 400-700 mm. In order
to determine the range of the occurrence of particular in Fig. 9. In order to protect both phases against
flow patterns, a visual method was applied to observe entering the pressure tappings at the same time,
the distribution of phases in the Rowing mixture and Hewitt proposed to feed the pressure tappings with
to assign the transition point from one flow pattern liquid flux. He also mentioned that feeding liquid flux
into another one with constant liquid flux and vary- must be the same in both pressure tappings and it
ing gas flux. Increasing and decreasing gas flux was should not exceed 0.1% of the liquid flux in the
under observation in order to find whether the hyster- flowing two-phase mixture. In the most general case,
esis effect of the run of boundary lines of particular the pressure drop in a two-phase mixture flow is
flow patterns occurs in fact. The observed patterns of
a two-phase flow were fixed by taking photographs of AP,,,. = pd(H sin a + h) - pzFH sin a. (52)
a chosen section of the channel which was lighted by
a photoflash lamp. The density of a two-phase mixture occurring in
The pressure drop in a two-phase flow was mea- relationship (52) was taken from the relation
sured by means of the system proposed by
Hewitt [26]; the principle of measurement is presented PZF = PC& + (1 - &)PL (53)

Table 2. Dimensions of rectangular channels used for investigations

-
lr k
-

1 12 51.1 4.6
2 10 42.1 4.4 9.7 7.9
3 8 37.0 4.7 a. 1 8.3
4 > 30.1 6.4 4.7 10.6

5 3 22.6 7.55 2.9 11.7

6 2 16.9 9.6 1.98 12.7

7 z 12.7 13.5 0.94 13.1

8 112 9.9 18.8 0.526 13.0
9 115 6.0 29.5 0.204 10.0

IO l/10

I
4.1 41.5 0.099 7.45

-
 Two-phase gas-liquid ftow in rectangular channels 759
Table 3. Range of parameter variation

Name Notation Dimension Range

air ma55 velocity kg/(m2,sl 0.6 i 43

PCS
water mass velocity k/(m2.s) 200 + 1,600
gLs
liquid viscosity
'2, Pa-S (0.7 r 40 ).I03

liquid density kg/m3 995 + 1,150

PL
ratio of sides k 0.1 + 12

equivalent diameter mm 7.4 i 13.3

De
pressure drop .4P Pa 90 + 8,000
pressure P MPa 0.105 t 0.120

temperature t % 25 c 35

whereas gas void fraction was calculated by the k = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 12. Whereas 2634
method proposed by Stomma[27], also valid for a measurements of identification were made in the flow
two-phase flow in rectangular channels through horizontal channels with the ratio of sides
k = 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1,2,5, 10 and 880 measurements of
pressure drop in all were made.
A detailfied information on the carried out experi-
ments is included in paper[l7].

Since pressure varied along the length of channel the
authors decided to assign air and liquid flux to
conditions (P, 1) existing at the entry to the mixer.
Investigations of the occurrence of particular pat-
terns of a two-phase flow were carried out by the use
of air-water and aqueous solution of sugar-air mix-
tures, whereas the pressure drop was investigated by
the use of a water-air mixture. The ranges, in which
particular parameters were altered during experi-
ments, are given in Table 3.
768 measurements of identifying patterns of the
two-phase flow were made altogether in the flow
through vertical channels with the ratio of sides
6.DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS
At the early stage of investigations, patterns of a
two-phase flow were identified. In the flow through
vertical channels, in the range of k = l-12, an excel-
lent agreement of existing flow patterns with those
observed in a pipe was found. It was only observed
that in the flow through channels with the ratio of
sides k r 3, the distribution of phases in the froth
flow was similar to the slug flow along the opposite
thinner walls of the cross-sectional channel; hence the
authors proposed to call it: the froth-slug flow. The
classification of flow patterns in vertical rectangular
channels is presented in Fig. 10. In the flow through

1 2 3 5 5
Fig. 10. Flow patterns in two-phase gas-liquid Row in vertical rectangular channels: 1, bubble; 2, plug;
3, froth-slug; 4, annular; 5, mist.
760 L. TRONIEWSKI and R. ULBRICH

horizontal channels it was found that apart from the
flow patterns existing in the flow through a pipe there
occured the ffow which was called the semi-annular
flow, in particular for k z 2, when the fluctuating
froth-slug flow decreased and the liquid fiIm had not
occured yet at the upper wall of the channel. Consid-
ering, however, that wetting all the walls is the most
important moment in practice, the area in which the
semi-annular flow occurs, was included into region of
the froth-slug flow. It was also observed, just as Iida
and Takahashi[4] noticed, that the stratified and
wavy flows did not occur in the water-air mixture
flow for k I 0.1 and in the aqueous solution of
sugar-air mixture flow for k I 0.5. The classification
of patterns of a two-phase gas-liquid flow in horizon-
tal rectangular channels is presented in Fig. 11.
6. I Flow regime maps
The range of occurence of particular pattern flows
was determined on the basis of the given classification
of patterns of a two-phase gas-liquid flow. In the flow
through vertical channels only boundaries are as-
singed for the plug/froth-slug and the froth-
slug/annular flow. The ranges of the occurence of the
froth flow for the water-air mixture flow and for the
aqueous solution of sugar-air mixture flow all the
tested channels in the proposed coordinate system
(30) with value A = 1, are given in Figs 12 and 13. An

k=l k-1

Fig. 11. Flow patterns in two-phase gas-liquid Row in horizontal rectangular channels: 1, bubble; 2, plug;
3, stratified; 4, wavy; 5, froth-slug; 6, semiannular; 7, annular; 8. mist.

m
S

Fig. 12. Results of investigations of range of occurence of particular flow patterns in two-phase water-air
flow in vertical rectangular channels with ratio of sides k = 1 + 12.
 Twc-phase gasliquid flow in rectangular channels
Fig. 13. Results of investigation of range of occurence of particular flow patterns in two-phase aqueous
solution of sugar (qL = 30 cP)-air flow in vertical rectangular channels with ratio of sides k = l-12.
insignificant influence of liquid viscosity upon the
position of the boundary line of an annular flow was
found, similar to that observed in pipes[28, lo].
In this connection this influence was neglected in a
flow regime map. The pattern map of a two-phase
gas-liquid flow in vertical rectangular channels is
given in Fig. 14. The results of investigations of the
range of occurence of particular patterns of a two-
phase water-air mixture flow in a horizontal channet
with the ratio of sides k = 2, are presented, by way
of example, in Fig. 15whereas those for the aqueous
solution of sugar-air mixture flow in the channel with
the ratio of sides k = 0.1 are presented in Fig. 16. The
results of investigations are presented in the proposed
coordinate system (51) with the index value B = 1.
Fig. 14. Flow regime map in two-phase gas-liquid flow in
vertical rectangular channels
While mapping the same flow patterns for the rest of
rectangular channels it was found that the channels
could be divided into two groups: (1) rectangular
channels for which the line dimension in the direction
of the force of gravity effects considerably the for-
mation of patterns of a stratified flow (Fig. 15); (2)
crevice channels, when the line dimension of the
channel in the direction of force of gravity is very
small; for this group of channels the existance of
stratified and wavy flows was not found (Fig. 16). As
a result of the carried out investigations, the channels
with the ratio of sides: k I 0.1 for the water-air
mixture and k 5 0.5 for the aqueous solution of
sugar-air mixture (qL = 30 cP) were included into the
group of crevice channels.
It was also observed that in both groups of chan-
nels, the boundary lines between particular flow
patterns marked on the coordinate system (51) with
B = 1, were the same in character irrespective of the
ratio of sides k and of the flow pattern of a two-phase
mixture. The pattern maps of a two-phase gasliquid
flow in horizontal rectangular channels are given in
Fig. 17.
The reason for adoption A = 1 and B = 1 in
relationships (30) and (51) based on the statistical
analysis of the results of investigations is given in
papfier[l7].
4.2 Pressure drop
The proposed manner of calculation of the pres-
sure drop was verified by comparing the results of
investigations with those in Fig. I8 and Fig. 19. Lines
limiting the area in which 85% of points were placed,
 L. TRONIEWSKI and R. ULBMCH

100

lfJ-iL

Lo-e- ’ ’ ““1
I I Ill11 I I 111111 I I 111111 I I Illill :
10-l 1 j 102 103 0’
II

Fig. 15. Results of investigations of range of occurence of particular flow patterns in two-phase water-air
flow in horizontal rectangular channel with ratio of sides k = 2.

kg
m2s

Fig. 16. Results of investigations of range of occurence of particular flow patterns in two-phase aqueous
solution of sugar (qr = 30 cP) - air in horizontal rectangular channel with ratio of sides k = 0.1.
 Two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular channels 763

Fig. 17. Flow regime maps in two-phase gas-liquid flow: (a) in horizontal rectangular channels; (b) in
crevice. channels.

104

E
%Rco, - D 10

A 8
0 5
Pa
_ 0 3
a 2
+ 1

lo2 V -P
I Ilil II
10’
7
! ll]il[
10‘
1

%R me pa
Fig. 18. Comparison of measured pressure drops in two-phase water-air mixture flow in vertical
rectangular channels with those calculated by modified Lockhart-Martinelli method.

are given in diagrams.The obtained spread of points
is of the same order as the accuracy of the
Lockhart-Martinelli method while calculating the
pressure drop of the two-phase mixture flow in a pipe.
6.3 Comparison with other investigations
Figure 20 shows that in the pattern map of a
two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular channels
there occur areas of a wavy flow in horizontal
rectangular channels with dimensions 60 x 25 mm,
found by Wurz[29] and Sill[30].
The boundaries of the ranges of occurence of
particular flow patterns in vertical rectangular chan-
nels and in horizontal crevice channels were in-
vestigated by Iida and Takahashi[4]. The points from
investigations[4] were marked on proper pattern
maps in Figs 21 and 22 and a rather good agreement
was obtained.
764 L. TRONIEWSKIand R. ULBRICH

Fig. 22. Comparison of range of occurence of flow patterns

in two-phase flow in horizontal crevice channels with results
obtained by Iida and Takahashi[4].

Fig. 19. Comparison of measured pressure drops in two-

phase water-air mixture flow in horizontal rectangular 7. CONCLUSIONS
channels with those calculated by modified On
the basis of the carried out considerations and
Lockhart-Martinelli method. experiments it can be assumed that in the two-phase
flow through rectangular channets, the departures
from relations obligatory for the flow through pipes,
results from differences in single-phase flows through
IO3 rectangular channels.
913s The correction w (eqn 16 and 17), being a function
a&J102 of geometry, and which is derived from the analysis
of a single-phase flow in rectangular channels, has
kg
m2s proved to be entirely useful when the two-phase flow
is described.
IO
In order to determine the range of occurrence of
particular patterns of the two-phase flow in rectan-
1 gular channels, the authors propose to make use of
Fig. 14 for vertical channels and Fig. 17 for horizon-
I tal rectangular channels and crevice channels,
lb3 162 lb 10 102 whereas the pressure drop of two-phase mixture flows
b through rectangular channels ought to be calculated
g haYE3 according to the modified Lockhart-Martinelli
Fig. 20. Comparison of range of occurence of wavy flow in method.
horizontal rectangular channels with results obtained by
Wurz[29] and Sill[30]. NOTATION

A constant
a side of rectangular channel, m
ai constant
B constant
b side of rectangular channel, m
c constant
D diameter, m
F cross-sectional area of channel, m2
G mass flow rate, kg/s
g mass velocity, kg/(m’ s)
B gravitational acceleration, m/s2
H height, m
h indication of manometer, m
k ratio of sides
L length, m
index of the power
Fig. 21. Comparison of range of flow patterns in two-phase I; circumference of channel m
gas-liquid flow in vertical rectangular channels with results P pressure, Pa
obtained by Iida and Takabashi[4]. P length of arc, m
 Two-phase gas-liquid flow in rectangular channels 765

void fraction in two-phase mixture _ _ Iida Y. and Takahashi K., Kaaaku Kozaku Ronbunshu
141
radius, m 1976 2 (3) 228.
Reynolds number [S] Jones 0. C., Zuber N., Int. J. Multiphase Flow 1975
Z(3) 273.
line dimension of interfacial area, m [6] Huhn J. and Wolf J., Zweiphasenstriimung. Leipzig
velocity, m/s 1975.
Lockhart-Martinelli parameter [7] Friedel L., VDI-Forschungs Hefi 572 1975.
gas mass quality [8] Hoglund B. M. el al., Report ANL-5760, 1961.
[9] Janssen E. and Kervinen J. A., Report GEAP-4616,
inclination of channel
1964.
gas volume flux quality [IO] Troniewski L. and Ulbrich R., 10th Conf. Chemical
viscosity, Pa . s and Process Engineering. t6di 1980.
friction factor [l I] Spisak W., Tronieswki L. and Ulbrich R., Euromech
Baker correction 162, Jabionna 1982.
[12] Troniewski L., Ulbrich R. and Witczak S., 5fh Conf.
density on Comouter Methods in Civil EnsGeerinz.
Y Y Wrodaw
corrtiction 1981. ’
central anele II 31 Troniewski L.. Ulbrich R. and Piechota R., Zeszyfy
Baker correction Naukowe WSI Opok 1982 23 5
[I41 Lockhart R. W. and Martinelli ‘R. C., Chem.
correction function (16) Prof. 1949 45 39.
[IS] Troiiewski L. and Ulbrich R., Ini. Chem. i Proc. 1983
Subscriprs 13(3) (in print).
a air (for f = 20°C. P = 0.1 MPa) [16] Jones 0. c., Trans. ASME J. Fluids Engng 1976 6 173.
Gil calculated [lfl Ulbrich R., Doctoral Dissertations, Wrodaw Tech-
nical University 198 1.
equivalent [I 81 Jones W. P. and Launder B. E., Znt. J. Heat Mass
;I gas Transfer 1972 15 301.
L liquid [19] Bandel J., Doctoral Dissertation, University of Kar-
1 laminar lsrnhe 1973.
[ZO] Davis E. J. and Cheremisinoff N. P., A.Z.Ch.E.J. 1979
m maximum
25(l) 48.
me measured [21] Davis E. J., Cheremisinoff N. P. and Sambasivan G.,
P pipe Two-Phare Transport and Reactor Safety. Hemisphere,
R frictional Washington 1978.
r [22] Agrawall S. S., Gregory G. A., Govier G. W., Can. J.
rectangular
Chem. Engng 1973 51(3) 280.
superficial [23] Taitel Y. and Dukler A. E., A.Z.Ch.E.J. 1976 22(l) 47.
; total intensity of flow [24] Baker O., Oil rrnd Gus J. 1954 53 185.
t turbulent [25] Taitel Y., Bomea D. and Dukler A. E., Modelling flow
water (for t = 20°C)
pattern transitions for steady upward gas-liquid flow
in vertical tubes. University of Houston 1980 (private
2; two-phase mixture
communication).
- mean value [26] Hewitt G. F., Measurement of two-phase Flow Param-
* conventional value eters. Academic Press, London 1978.
[27] Stomma Z., Report INR 1818/1X/R/R/A, Institute of
Nuclear Research, Swierk 1978.
REFERENCES 1281 Hobler T., Kedzierski S., Chem. Stos. 1970 7 2B 157.
111Hosler E. R., Chem. Engng Prog. Symp. Ser. 1968 64 1291 Wnrz D. E. Habilitationsschrift, Universitgt Karlsruhe
(82) 54. 1978.
[2] Hosler E. R., Report WAPD-TM-658, 1967. [30] Sill H. J., Forschung in der Kraftwerksteehnik 1982
[3] Richardson B. L.. Report ANL-5949, 1958. 232.

CES Vol. 39.No. &I