CHEN 3009

Fluid and Particle Processes Tutorial-2

Two-Phase Flow: Gas-Liquid Flow

Lihong LIU

Email: Lihong.Liu@curtin.edu.au
Regimes in horizontal tube:
bubble or froth flow
plug flow
stratified flow

Gg/λ
wave flow
slug flow
annular flow
dispersed flow

Hewitt-Roberts map
Regimes in vertical tube:
bubble flow
slug flow
churn flow
Semi-annular flow
annular flow
dispersed flow
Homogeneous Method:
 𝝆=𝜺 𝒈 𝝆𝒈 +𝜺 𝒍 𝝆𝒍
  𝝆 𝒗𝟐 𝑿 𝑮𝟐 𝑿
− ∆ 𝑷=𝒇 =𝒇
𝟐𝑫 𝟐𝝆𝑫   𝝁= 𝜺 𝒈 𝝁 𝒈 + 𝜺 𝒍 𝝁𝒍
  𝑮𝑫
𝑹𝒆=
𝝁
Lockhart-Martinelli diagram
Heterogeneous Method:

 
𝟐   𝑮 𝒍𝟐 𝑿 𝜒=
∆
  𝑷 =ϕ ∆ 𝑷
𝒈𝒍 𝒍 𝒍
− ∆ 𝑷 𝒍=𝒇
𝟐 𝑫 𝝆𝒍

  𝑮 𝒈𝟐 𝑿
∆  𝑷 𝒈𝒍 =ϕ 𝒈𝟐 ∆ 𝑷 𝒈 − ∆ 𝑷 𝒈 =𝒇 Chisholm Equation
𝟐 𝑫 𝝆𝒈
 True or False

Question 1

For two-phase gas/liquid flow in

horizontal/vertical tubes, the bubble flow regime
occurs at low gas flow rates.
 Chapter 2, page: 5

Horizontal, typical velocity of gas for bubble flow: 0.3 – 3 m/s

 Vapour

Disperse flow

Annular flow

Slug flow
Bubbly flow
Liquid
The evolution of the steam/water flow in a vertical boiler tube.
 Vertical, typical velocity of gas for bubble flow:
Hewitt and Roberts map (page 32)

The maximum for bubbly flow is 100, namely 100

 Thus, 9.4 m/s (ρa= 1.131 kg/m3)

False
Question 2

The void fraction in the slug flow regime of two-

phase flow in vertical tubes is important because
it is a key factor in determining the overall
pressure drop.
The void fraction ε is the volume percentage of one phase
either in dense or dilute phase.
  𝑽𝒈   𝑽𝒍
𝜺 𝒈= 𝜺𝒍 =  𝑽 =𝑽 +𝑽
𝒕𝒐𝒕 𝒈 𝒍
𝑽 𝒕𝒐𝒕 𝑽 𝒕𝒐𝒕
For homogeneous horizontal flow
 𝝆=𝜺 𝒈 𝝆𝒈 +𝜺 𝒍 𝝆𝒍
  𝝆 𝒗𝟐 𝑿 𝑮𝟐 𝑿
− ∆ 𝑷=𝒇 =𝒇
𝟐𝑫 𝟐𝝆𝑫   𝝁= 𝜺 𝒈 𝝁 𝒈 + 𝜺 𝒍 𝝁𝒍
  𝑮𝑫
𝑹𝒆=
𝝁
For vertical flow

  𝒅𝒑 𝒅𝒑
( 𝒅𝒙 ) 𝒈𝒍
= ∅𝟐 ( 𝒅𝒙 ) 𝒈
− 𝝆𝒈 𝒈

  𝒅𝒑 𝒅𝒑
( 𝒅𝒙 ) 𝒈𝒍
= ∅𝟐 ( ) − [ 𝜺 𝝆 +( 𝟏 − 𝜺 ) 𝝆 ] 𝒈
𝒅𝒙 𝒍
𝒈 𝒍

True
Question 3

Although the Lockhart/Martinelli correlation was originally

developed for two-phase flow in horizontal tubes, it can be
used to predict the fractional part of the pressure drop for
two-phase in vertical tubes.
Page 34

True
Question 4

The Lockhart/Martinelli two-phase pressure

gradient correlation explicitly recognises flow
regimes such as bubble flow, slug flow and
annular flow.
 φ

χ
Lockhart-Martinelli correlation is used to find liquid-phase factor or gas-
phase factor based on χ value and T – T, V – T/T – V and V – V situations.
 Baker Diagram Hewitt and Roberts map

identify bubble flow, slug flow and annular flow, etc.

Horizontal flow Vertical flow

False
Question 5

For two-phase gas/liquid flow in vertical tubes,

the transition between slug and annular flow is
well defined.
Hewitt and Roberts map

X
Slug: mid bottom
Annular: upper left True
Calculation Question 1

A two-phase mixture at atmospheric pressure (P1) and 25

C (T) containing 2 kg/s air (mg) and 20 kg/s (ml) water is
transported through a 250 mm (D) diameter horizontal
pipe. Using homogeneous flow model to calculate the
pressure drop and comparing the result with separated
model (Pg 15, Example 2.1).
Data:
a = 18 x 10-6 Pa s w = 0.9 x 10-3 Pa s
a = 1.131 kg/m3 w = 998 kg/m3
0.046
 
Known:
T = 298 K; D = 250 mm = 0.25 m,
ma = 2 kg/s, mw = 20 kg/s,
μa = 18 × 10-6 Pa s, μw = 0.9 × 10-3 Pa s
ρa = 1.131 kg/m3, ρw = 998 kg/m3
Find ΔP/X
 
Homogeneous flow:

 f: Reynolds Number  

Relative roughness

 𝝆=𝝆 𝒂 𝜺 𝒂+ 𝝆 𝒘 𝜺 𝒘

 Volume (void) fraction

Q=
 
Volume (void) fraction (ε)

 𝜺 𝒘 =𝟏 − 𝟎 . 𝟗𝟖𝟖𝟖=𝟎 . 𝟎𝟏𝟏𝟐

For gas-liquid flow, the homogenous density and

viscosity:
According to Moody Chart f = 0.0135

Pa/m
For separated model (Page 14-15)

  𝑮 𝒍𝟐 𝑿   𝑮𝒍 𝑫
∆ 𝑷𝒍 =𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒍=
  𝑷 =ϕ 𝟐 ∆ 𝑷
∆ 𝟐 𝑫 𝝆𝒍 𝝁𝒍
𝒈𝒍 𝒍 𝒍
  𝑮𝒈 𝑫
∆  𝑷 𝒈𝒍 =𝝓 𝒈𝟐 ∆ 𝑷 𝒈   𝑮𝒈𝟐 𝑿 𝑹𝒆𝒈 = 𝝁 𝒈
∆ 𝑷 𝒈=𝒇
𝟐 𝑫 𝝆𝒈   𝑷𝑴
𝝆 𝒈=
𝒁𝑹𝑻

  𝜒=
 Homogeneous
method

Pa/m

Pa/m
Heterogeneous
method
Separated model ε, L-M
chart determined

Homogeneous mode ε

Difference is caused by volume fraction.

Calculation Question 2

A mixture of liquid methanol and synthesis gas from a catalytic

converter leaves the aftercooler at a pressure of 60 atm (P1) and a
temperature of 60 C (T) and must pass through 40 m (X) and 100 mm
(D) commercial steel pipe (ε) to a separating vessel. The flows of
methanol and gas are 6000 t/day (ml) and 200 t/day (mg), respectively.

Estimate the downstream pressure in the pipe (P2).

 Data: methanol density: 710 kg/m3 (ρl) and viscosity: 0.4 cP (μl)

Gas molecular weight: 13 (Mg), gas compressibility: 1.03 (Z) and

viscosity: 0.015 cP (μg)

Preliminary analysis: Gas and liquid flow; firstly to determine the type
of flow.
Precaution: units of the data!!!

Known:
Pipe: D = 100 mm = 0.1 m; X = 40 m
Condition: P1 = 60 atm = 60 x 1.01 x 105 Pa = 6.06 x 106 Pa
T = 60 oC = 333 K;
Gas phase:
mg = 200 t/d = 200 x 1000 kg / (24 x 3600 s) = 2.315 kg/s;
Mg = 13 g/mol; Z = 1.03; μg = 0.015 cP = 1.5 x 10-5 Pa·s;
Liquid phase:
ml = 6000 t/d = 6000 x 1000 kg / (24 x 3600 s) = 69.4 kg/s,
 mg = 2.315 kg/s; μg = 1.5 x 10-5 Pa·s;
ml = 69.4 kg/s; μl = 4.0 x 10 Pa·s;
-4 ρl =710 kg/m3
;

X=40 m P2?
P1=6.06 x 10 Pa 6

T1= 333 K D=0.1 m

Z=1.03

  𝑮 𝒍𝟐 𝑿   𝑮𝒍 𝑫
∆ 𝑷𝒍 =𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒍=
𝟐 𝑫 𝝆𝒍 𝝁𝒍
  𝑷 =ϕ 𝟐 ∆ 𝑷
∆ 𝒈𝒍 𝒍 𝒍
𝟐
  𝑮𝒈 𝑫
∆  𝑷 𝒈𝒍 =ϕ 𝒈 ∆ 𝑷 𝒈 𝑹𝒆𝒈 =
  𝑮 𝒈𝟐 𝑿 𝝁𝒈 ϕ 
∆ 𝑷 𝒈=𝒇
𝟐 𝑫 𝝆𝒈   𝑷𝑴
𝝆 𝒈=
𝒁𝑹𝑻
  𝜒
𝜒=
Solution:

Cross-sectional area A = π × (D/2)2 = 0.0078 m2

Gas-phase

Turbulent flow
Liquid-phase

  𝜌 𝑣𝐷 𝐺𝐷 8841.9 ×0.1 6
𝑅𝑒𝑙= = = =2.2 ×10 > 2000
𝜇 𝜇 0.4 ×10
−3

Turbulent flow

Thus, use the t-t line in the L-M

diagram
Friction factor of a commercial steel pipe; (D = 100 mm)

fl = f g =
0.016
Therefore,
 Lockhart-Martinelli diagram

Φl = 2.1

Φl 2= 4.41
Chisholm equation
 Since the pressure drop is large (15.3/60=25.5%), the average pressure should be used.
 
Use P=(60+44.7)/2=52.35 atm for calculating the gas density.
 

 
Using new P2 to calculate the average density for several iterations, finally get P 2=43.73 atm
 
 
 Calculation Question 3

Air and water flow upwards at 0.1 kg/s and 1 kg/s, respectively, in a vertical
steel tube of internal diameter D = 50 mm and length L = 0.2 m. The fluids
are at temperature of 20 °C and the expansion of the air may be assumed to
be isothermal. The inlet pressure is 1 bar. Determine the flow pattern and
the pressure drop. (μa = 18 ×10-6 Pa s; μw = 0.9×10-3 Pa s; water density =
1000 kg/m3)
 
Known information
Vertical tube diameter D=50 mm, length X=0.2 m
Air mass flow rate G=0.1 kg/s, water mass flow rate L=1.0 kg/s
Air viscosity a = 18×10-6 Pa s, water viscosity w = 0.9×10-3 Pa s
T=20 °C=293 k, p1=1 bar=1 Pa, water density=1000kg/,
M=29kg/mol
Find flow pattern and the pressure drop.

𝑮 𝒍𝟐 𝒎𝒍 A
𝑮𝒍=
𝝆𝒍 𝑨
   
𝑮 𝒈𝟐 𝒎𝒈
𝑮𝒈 =
𝑨
𝝆𝒈
𝑷𝑴
 
𝝆 𝒈=
𝑹𝑻
 

 
 

For the vertical upward flow

Check the Hewitt and Roberts diagram, the flow pattern is annular flow.
 

For iron steel,

Check moody diagram ;

Assuming the pressure drop is small, using inlet air density

 
 

 
According to Lockhart-Martinelli diagram
 

0%
 
Since the pressure drop is small, the assumption is valid.

For the two-phase flow in a vertical pipe, generally we should use the gas pressure
gradient (rather than the liquid pressure gradient) to calculate the two phase
pressure gradient, because the gas velocity is much higher than the liquid velocity.