Experimental Investigation on Wave Initiation and Slugging of Air-Water Stratified Flow in Horizontal Duct

Abstract

Two-phase air-water flow was studied experimentally under atmospheric conditions. Wave growth and slugging from stratified flow regime in a horizontal duct were analyzed by using a video camera. The result for slug initiation was compared with the instability criteria based on linear analysis and the empirical correlations of other researchers. The required instability criteria is in good agreement. The reason for the necessary lower gas velocity in comparison with Kelvin-Helmholtz relation and growth of short wavelength waves which create slugs were discussed and presented by some pictures. The result of this kind of careful experimentation was aimed in verification of inherent problems which are contained in two fluid models.