Modelling flow pattern transitions for steady upward gas-liquid flow in vertical tubes. [Bubble, slug, churn and dispersed-annular; also existence regions and transitions]

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · AIChE J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690260304· OSTI ID:5364505

Taitel, Y ^[1]; Bornea, D; Dukler, A E

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1. Tel-Aviv Univ., Israel

Models for predicting flow patterns in steady upward gas-liquid flow in vertical tubes (such as production-well tubing) delineate the transition boundaries between each of the four basic flow patterns for gas-liquid flow in vertical tubes: bubble, slug, churn, and dispersed-annular. Model results suggest that churn flow is the development region for the slug pattern and that bubble flow can exist in small pipes only at high liquid rates, where turbulent dispersion forces are high. Each transition depends on the flow-rate pair, fluid properties, and pipe size, but the nature of the dependence is different for each transition because of differing control mechanisms. The theoretical predictions are in reasonably good agreement with a variety of published flow maps based on experimental data.

• OSTI ID: 5364505
• Journal Information: AIChE J.; (United States), Vol. 26
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
03 NATURAL GAS
TWO-PHASE FLOW
FLOW MODELS
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
GASES
LIQUIDS
NATURAL GAS
PIPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
420400* - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
032000 - Natural Gas- Transport
Handling
& Storage