Two-phase flow modeling in circular pipes

Abstract

This thesis reviews the two-phase frictional pressure gradient and void fraction models available in the literature. New research is proposed in the area of two-phase frictional pressure gradient and void fraction, specifically, the development of new models which will enable the prediction of pressure drop and void fraction characteristics, which are important design parameter in many engineering applications such as chemical industry, nuclear industry, petroleum industry, refrigeration and air-conditioning applications, and space station applications. The new models will be simple but accurate at the same time. -- Results for developing new definitions of two-phase viscosity that can be used to compute the two-phase frictional pressure gradient using the homogeneous model, giving a simple asymptotic compact model for two-phase frictional pressure gradient in horizontal pipes as well as bounds on two-phase frictional pressure gradient and void fraction in circular pipes are presented. -- It is shown that the new definitions of two-phase viscosity can be used to analyze the experimental data of two-phase frictional pressure gradient in circular pipes using the homogeneous model. -- It is observed that the new models accurately predict the experimental data contained in the literature and are much simpler than other empirical models, which are presently available in the literature.