Flow regime transition to wavy dispersed flow for high-pressure steam/water two-phase flow in horizontal pipe

Abstract

A wavy-dispersed flow regime was observed between slug and annular-dispersed flow regimes in TPTF high-pressure steam/water horizontal pipe experiments, employing the video probe visual observation. The onset of entrainment was identified to cause slug to wavy-dispersed flow transition. The wavy-dispersed flow regime extended towards lower gas flow rates as pressure was increased. Furthermore, it was found that the gas-liquid relative velocity for the onset of entrainment decreases significantly, resulting in decrease in the minimum void fraction. Consequently, the slug flow regime was found to disappear for pressures above 8.6 MPa, as observed in the previous TPTF experiments. Applicability of available models and correlations on the onset of entrainment was assessed against the TPTF data. Steen-Wallis parameter correlated the data well when the superficial gas velocity term in this parameter is replaced by the gas-liquid relative velocity.