Local parameters of air–water two-phase flow at a vertical T-junction

Abstract

Significant experimental work and modeling about vertical T-junction as a phase separator has been done for churn and annular flows, but a survey on the literature reveals a lack of experimental data regarding bubbly flow nor any phenomenological explanation to their behavior. The objective of this work is to extend the understanding of these junctions by obtaining complete datasets, i.e. of both gas and liquid, of the phase splitting process in bubbly flow conditions by means of conductivity needle probes, Laser Doppler anemometry and visual inspection. Measurements and observations of the phase split, as well as the vortex structure in a vertical T-junction with equal pipe diameters (52 mm inner diameter), are reported. Results suggest a relationship between the vortex structure and the efficiency of the junction as phase separator.