1999 Volume 13 Issue 3 Pages 238-245
Characteristics of the volume fraction and the phase velocity of gas-liquid-solid three-phase slug flow with quite large particles in a vertical pipe have been studied experimentally.Air, tap water and aluminum-ceramic balls of mean diameter 24.8mm were flowed in a vertical pipe with 30.8mm inside diameter and about 7.5m in height.The volume fraction of each phase is measured by use of the quick closing valve method and the image processing method based on VTR images, jointly.The same following results that have been obtained in the case of gas-liquid-solid three-phase bubble flow and slug flow with small particles are recognized even in this gas-liquid-solid three-phase slug flow with quite large particles.Each volume fraction of three phases increases with increasing the volumetric flux of each corresponding phase like in the case of two-phase flow.When only the volumetric flux of gas phase or liquid phase increases, the volume fractions of the other two phases decrease.However, if only the volumetric flux of solid phase increases, the volume fraction of gas phase or liquid phase increases in some flow conditions.The equation to estimate the gas phase velocity can be expressed by a linear function of total volumetric flux with small deviation, but the influence of volumetric flux of each phase must be incorporated to express the equations to estimate the velocities of liquid phase and of solid phase because the experimental data distribute with large deviations from linear functions of total volumetric flux.
