Air--Water Countercurrent Annular Flow in Vertical Tubes. Interim Report

摘要

Air--water countercurrent flow characteristics in 2.5 and 5.1 cm vertical tubes are investigated. Experimental measurements include air and water flow rates, pressure losses, pressure gradients, and liquid fractions. Tube-end geometries are altered to study their influence on the flow characteristics. Liquid-fraction measurements indicate that the countercurrent flow may be divided into three regions based upon the relative magnitudes of interfacial and wall shear stresses. The dependence of interfacial friction factor on the liquid fraction is isolated. The mechanism limiting countercurrent flows within a tube is modelled by a simple theory. Salient features of the theory are demonstrated. Comparisons between the theory and some experimental data are presented. (ERA citation 04:000757)