Observation of Film in a Horizontal Annular Two-Phase Flow by a Photochromic Dye Activation Method

Abstract

An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the mechanism of liquid film transport in horizontal annular flow by visualizing the motion of the liquid film on the inner tube wall using a photochromic dye activation method. The captured motion clearly reveals spreading of the liquid during the passage of disturbance waves and constant drainage of the liquid film after the passage of the disturbance waves. The present results support the liquid transport mechanism due to the pumping action of the disturbance waves proposed by Fukano and Ousaka rather than the secondary gas flow or surface wave mechanisms proposed by Laurinat et al. and Jayanti et al.