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Title: Vertical two-phase flow regimes and pressure gradients under the influence of SDS surfactant

Journal Article · · Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330 (Thailand)
  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 (United States)

Two-phase gas/liquid flows in vertical pipes have been systematically investigated. Water and SDS surfactant solutions at various concentrations were used as the working fluids. In particular, we focus our work on the influence of surfactant addition on the flow regimes, the corresponding pressure gradients, and the bubble sizes and velocity. Adding the surfactant lowers the air critical Reynolds numbers for the bubble-slug flow and the slug flow transitions. The pressure gradients of SDS solutions are lower than those of pure water especially in the slug flow and the slug-churn flow regimes, implying turbulent drag reduction. At low Re{sub air}, the bubble sizes of the surfactant solution are lower than those of pure water due to the increase in viscosity. With increasing and at high Re{sub air}, the bubble sizes of the SDS solution become greater than those of pure water which is attributed to the effect of surface tension. (author)

OSTI ID:
20999347
Journal Information:
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Vol. 32, Issue 3; Other Information: Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved; ISSN 0894-1777
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English