SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY (SMA) WIRE AS SENSOR FOR TAYLOR BUBBLE FLOW REGIME OF TWO PHASE FLOWS

摘要

Present invention provides a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) based sensor for the determination of certain two-phase flow characteristics namely velocity and length of the liquid and gas phase during Taylor Bubble flows. The invention also provides a method to capture the changing heat transfer characteristics in a Taylor bubble type two-phase flow using a SMA wire, with which its resistance feedback, can lead to determination of two-phase flow parameters, namely velocity and length of gas phase. A SMA wire with an input voltage source is kept across a cross section in a two-phase flow. Its heat dissipation in each phase will change because of different heat transfer coefficient of gas and liquid medium which then would result in temperature variation of SMA wire, further leading.to a change in its electrical resistance. Detection of the start and finish of gas and liquid phase leads to determination of two- phase flow parameters.