Two-phase flows: fundamentals

Tutorial 1

Marie-Charlotte Renoult, INSA Rouen Normandie

Academic year 2021-2022

Two-phase flows: fundamentals 2 / 19
Dispersion of a bulk liquid volume

Statement

A bulk liquid volume is surrounded by an ambient fluid. Using an

atomization process, this volume is divided into drops. Estimate the
surface area of the interface separating the two fluids after atomization
over its value before atomization.

Reformulate the statement by following these steps

Draw a sketch of the two equilibrium states
Introduce variables for the physical quantities of interest
Make reasonable assumptions
Reformulate the question to be answered
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 3 / 19
Dispersion of a bulk liquid volume

Formulation of the problem

Initial state Final state

(2) d

(1) Atomization

Vi
Si

Bulk liquid volume N drops (Vf , Sf )

Simplifying assumptions
Drops are supposed spherical and of same diameter.
Liquid volume is conserved during atomization.

Question to be answered : what is ratio R = Sf /Si ?

Two-phase flows: fundamentals 4 / 19
Dispersion of a bulk liquid volume

Solution of the problem

N spherical drops of diameter d have a total surface Sf = Nπd 2 .

N is unknown. We use the conservation of the liquid volume to express
this parameter : Vi = Nπd 3 /6 → N = 6Vi /(πd 3 )

Sf li
R is deduced from the two previous relations : R = =6 where
Si d
li = Vi /Si is the specific length of the bulk liquid volume.

Some concluding remarks about this relation :

The homogeneity is verified
Dimensional analysis predicts that R = f (li /d) with f a function to
be determined.
Our calculation shows that : f (x) = 6x.
Increasing li or decreasing d (i.e. increasing N), increases R.
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 5 / 19
Dispersion of a bulk liquid volume

Numerical application

Numerical values
Vi = 1 L ; Si = 0.05m2 → li = 0.02 m
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 6 / 19
Pressure jump at a curved interface

Statement

A liquid cylinder is deformed by a varicose perturbation into an ambient

fluid. Determine the pressure jump at the interface between the two
fluids.

Reformulate the statement by following these steps

Draw a sketch of the deformed liquid cylinder
Introduce variables for the physical quantities of interest
Make reasonable assumptions
Reformulate the question to be answered
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 7 / 19
Pressure jump at a curved interface

Formulation of the problem

r
(F )
rs (z) γ

(L)
z

Simplifying assumptions :
Gravity is ignored.
The deformed cylinder is in a static state.
Question to be answered : what is PL − PF across the interface ?
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 8 / 19
Pressure jump at a curved interface

Application of Laplace’s law

r CP (F )
• A
• γ rs (z)

M• B
(L) •
C⊥P • • z
H
 
1 1
Laplace’s law at point M : PL − PF = −γ(κP + κ⊥P ) = −γ RP + R⊥P
Let us first determine R⊥P
Determination of R⊥P
What is the sign of R⊥P .
What is R⊥P for M = A and M = B ?
Consider the angle, noted θ, between (C⊥P M) and (HM) to express
R⊥P .
Deduce the final expression of 1/R⊥P .
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 9 / 19
Pressure jump at a curved interface

Determination of R⊥P
r CP (F )
• A
• γ rs (z)

M• B
(L) •
C⊥P • • z
H
Determination of R⊥P
R⊥P is always of same sign. It is negative because C⊥P is located
into the liquid (convention of lecture 1)
R⊥P = −rs (zA ) for M = A and R⊥P = −rs (zB ) for M = B.
cos θ = rs /(−R⊥P ) → R⊥P = −rs / cos θ.
−1
cos θ = dz
ds =
√ 1 2 → 1/R⊥P = q <0
1+rs,z 2
rs 1 + rs,z
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 10 / 19
Pressure jump at a curved interface

Determination of RP

r CP (F )
• A
• γ rs (z)

M• B
(L) •
C⊥P • • z
H

Determination of RP
Use the definition of the radius of curvature for a curve.
What is the sign of RP ?
Recall the expression of dz/ds.
Express tan θ and its z-derivative.
Deduce an expression of 1/RP .
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 11 / 19
Pressure jump at a curved interface

Determination of RP
r CP (F )
• A
• γ rs (z)

M• B
(L) •
C⊥P • • z
H
Determination of RP
RP is defined by ds/dθ
RP has not a constant sign. At M, RP > 0 (because CP is located
into the fluid phase)
dθ dθ dz
ds = dz ds = θ,z dz
ds
dz 1 d(tan θ) rs,zz
ds = √1+r 2
and tan θ = rs,z → dz = rs,zz → θ,z = 2
1+rs,z
s,z

rs,zz
1/RP = 2 )3/2
(1 + rs,z
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 12 / 19
Pressure jump at a curved interface

Expression of Laplace’s law

r CP (F )
• A
• γ rs (z)

M• B
(L) •
C⊥P • • z
H

Laplace’s law finally writes at any point M on the surface

  !
1 1 −1 rs,zz
PL − PF = −γ + = −γ 2 )1/2
+ 2 )3/2
R⊥P RP rs (1 + rs,z (1 + rs,z
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 13 / 19
Prediction of a flow pattern map

Statement

We consider a stationary vertical water/air flow in a circular cylindrical

conduit of diameter D = 5 cm.
Predict the flow regime for the operating conditions given in the table
below with the help of the flow pattern map of Taitel et al.

Case QvG [m3 /s] QvL [m3 /s] G [kg /(s · m2 )] x[-]
1 5.0×10−5 1.25×10−3 - -
2 - - 20 0.2
3 - - 50 0.6
4 1.5×10−1 2.5×10−5 - -
Table – Operating conditions.
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 14 / 19
Prediction of a flow pattern map

Visualisation of the map

Figure – Flow regime map of Taitel et al. Comparison with data water-air, 25◦
C, 10 N/cm2 , D = 2.5 cm, L = 130D solid lines represent theory.
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 15 / 19
Prediction of a flow pattern map

Solution
The gas superficial velocity under steady-state conditions writes :

QvG QmG QmG Qm xG

JG = = = =
A ρG A ρG AQm ρG

Similarly, the liquid superficial velocity writes :

QvL (1 − x)G
JL = =
A ρL

With these expressions, we can calculate JL and JG for each case and the
following flow regimes are predicted :
Case JG [m/s] JL [m/s] Regime
1 0.025 0.64 SLUG
2 4.1 0.016 CHURN
3 30 0.020 ANNULAR
4 76 0.013 ANNULAR
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 16 / 19
What is the meaning behind the superficial velocity ?

Statement

By expressing in two different way the phase volume flow rate for a
steady state and unidirectional two-phase flow, explain why the phase
superficial velocity is called the "slow velocity" ?

Reformulation of the statement

Introduce the useful notations
Give two expressions for the phase volume flow rate
Deduce the meaning of the phase superficial velocity
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 17 / 19
What is the meaning behind the superficial velocity ?

Solution

A is the total flow cross-section, Ak is the phase domain over A,

vk is the phase average velocity over Ak

The definition of the volume flow rate of phase k gives a first relation
between vk and Ak : Qvk = Ak vk

By replacing Ak in the previous expression by AR2k , we obtain a second

relation, linking Jk and A Qvk = AR2k vk = AJk

From these two relations, we get : Ak vk = AJk

The phase superficial velocity is the velocity that the phase would have if
it could occupy the total flow cross-section. Since Ak < A, the superficial
velocity is always slower than the average velocity. It is thus called the
slow velocity.
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 18 / 19
The void fraction is different from the strength by mass !

Statement

Given an unidirectional and steady-state two-phase flow in a conduit,

express the ratio of average velocity in function of the void fraction, the
strength by mass and the ratio of density.

Reformulation of the statement

Introduce the useful notations
Give two expressions of the ratio of volume flow rate
Deduce the ratio of average phase velocity
Two-phase flows: fundamentals 19 / 19
The void fraction is different from the strength by mass !

Expression of the ratio of average phase velocity

A is the area of the conduit cross-section, Ak is the phase domain over A,
vk is the average phase velocity over Ak
We introduce r the ratio of average velocity : r = v2 /v1
By definition we have under steady-state conditions : Qv 2 = αv2 and
Qv 1 = (1 − α)v1 . The ratio of volume flow rate gives :

Qv 2 α v2 α
= =r
Qv 1 1 − α v1 1−α

Using Qmk = ρk Qvk , x = Qm2 /Qm , 1 − x = Qm1 /Qm , we get :

Qv 2 Qm2 ρ1 Qm2 /Qm ρ1 x ρ1

= = =
Qv 1 Qm1 ρ2 Qm1 /Qm ρ2 1 − x ρ2

By equating the two previous expressions, it comes :

 
(1 − α) x ρ1 ρ1
r= = f α, x,
α (1 − x) ρ2 ρ2