Development of Wire Mesh Sensor for Measurement of Void Fraction Distribution in Refrigerant-Air Two Phase Flow

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reveal the characteristics of refrigerant-air two-phase flow, such as frictional pressure drop, void fraction, and so on. The characteristics of slug flow in small diameter pipes have been experimentally investigated by using refrigerant and air (HFE-71IPA) as the test fluids. The refrigerant is a highly insulated liquid. Therefore, a measuring method with high voltage applicable to the highly insulated liquid has been developed in order to measure the instantaneous void fraction distribution at the cross-section of the small diameter pipe. In order to development the high voltage wire mesh sensor to the exact measuring method, as first step, some experiments on instantaneous cross-sectional void fraction distribution in air-water two phase flow have been conducted by using wire-mesh sensor with 18 wires. These experimental results were compared with results of other sensors.