Horizontal Air-Water Two-Phase Flow Measurement Using an Electrical Impedance Probe and a Venturi Flow Meter

Abstract

Two-phase flow rate measurement is extremely important in many industrial sectors (nuclear, chemical, oil and gas, etc.). Nevertheless, the instrumentation required to perform these measurements is still very limited despite the huge research efforts during the last years. In the frame of the development of instrumentation for the two-phase flow rate measurement, the main aim of this study is the characterization of a spool piece consisting of a Venturi Flow Meter, and two Electric Capacitance Probes mounted in a horizontal test section, where an air-water two phase flow occurs. The probes response is analyzed versus superficial velocities of liquid and gas, flow patterns and void fraction. The test section consists of a nominal ID 80 mm horizontal transparent pipe equipped with a Venturi Flow Meter, a new capacitance probe with concave electrodes and a SIET designed electrical capacitance probe with ten long linear electrodes. In this experimental campaign, the air flow rate is in the range 0.048-0.119 kg/s (superficial velocity from 8 to 19 m/s) and the range of water flow rate is 0.0040-0.0535 kg/s (superficial velocity from 0.0006 m/s to 0.0103 m/s). These ranges of superficial velocities correspond to wavy stratified and annular-dispersed flow patterns along the test section.