Momentum interaction in buoyancy-driven gas–liquid vertical channel flows

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer Vol. 53; no. 9; pp. 2284 - 2293
• Main Authors: Echeverri, L.F., Acharya, S., Rein, P.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Buoyancy; Buoyancy-driven two-phase flows; Channel flow; Circulation; Circulation loop facility; Correlation; Crystallizers; Drag coefficient correlations; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Gas–liquid vertical channel flow; Liquids; Momentum interaction; Multiphase and particle-laden flows; Nonhomogeneous flows; Physics; Sugar industries; Viscosity; Void fraction; Circulation loop facility; Gas–liquid vertical channel flow; Drag coefficient correlations; Momentum interaction; Buoyancy-driven two-phase flows; Gas liquid interface; Correlation; Two phase flow; Pipe flow; Crystallizer; Void fraction; Sugar industry; Experimental study; Modeling; Flow regime; Test facility; Industrial equipment; Drag coefficient
• ISSN: 0017-9310; 1879-2189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2009.11.020

Drag coefficient correlations for bubbles in buoyancy-driven two-phase flows have generally been derived from data on low-viscosity media and within the bubbly flow regime. In a number of applications, e.g. evaporative crystallizers, there is a need to extend this correlation to higher viscosity flows and slug regimes. In this paper, the momentum interaction in gas–liquid vertical channel flow has been studied experimentally over a wide range of void fractions using a circulation loop facility where the buoyancy is the only driving force for liquid circulation. A model for the drag in gas–liquid buoyant flows has been developed, and is applicable for a wide range of viscosity and void fractions.