Experimental investigation of two-phase fluid flow over a rectangular obstructions located inside enlarged rectangular channel

Abstract

The two-phase fluid flow had many engineering applications like the fluidized bed, combustion, separation and collection of ducts, nuclear waste disposal, etc. which is the motivation for the researchers to investigate this phenomenon. In present investigation an experimental facility was developed to study the two-phase flow behavior inside a rectangular channel with rectangular obstructions with various air/water flow rates. The flow arrangement, air bubble generation along with pressure drop and pressure fluctuations were monitored in the present work. The experimental data was recorded using four pressure transducers and the air-water flow behavior was visualized with a camcorder for air flow rates of 8.3, 16.6, and 25 L/min and different water flow rates of 5, 10, 15 and 20 L/min. The results showed that by increasing the water or air flow rate values, the shape, size and amount of air bubbles in the water change accordingly. Higher water flow rate causes the flow to become highly turbulent and frothy. Furthermore, significant increase in the pressure difference along the channel was observed after increasing the gas and fluid discharge values.