Fluid Mechanics and Transport Phenomena

Inclination effects on wave characteristics in annular gas–liquid flows

  1. A. Al-Sarkhi1,*,
  2. C. Sarica2,
  3. K. Magrini2

Article first published online: 9 MAY 2011

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12653

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 58, Issue 4, pages 1018–1029, April 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Al-Sarkhi, A., Sarica, C. and Magrini, K. (2012), Inclination effects on wave characteristics in annular gas–liquid flows. AIChE J., 58: 1018–1029. doi: 10.1002/aic.12653

Author Information

  1. 1

    Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

  2. 2

    Dept. of Petroleum Engineering, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104

*Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 MAR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 9 MAY 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 15 APR 2011 01:17PM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 7 APR 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 7 SEP 2010

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Keywords:

  • annular flow;
  • wave characteristics;
  • pipe inclination;
  • fluid mechanics;
  • multiphase flow

Abstract

Measurements of wave characteristics have been conducted in a 0.0762 m internal diameter (ID) pipe at inclinations of 0°, 10°, 20°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° from horizontal. Wave celerity and frequency are very strongly dependent on modified Lockhart–Martinelli parameter, X*, and the inclination angle. Wave amplitude increases with increasing liquid film thickness at the bottom of the pipe. Wave amplitude depends on liquid film thickness for any pipe diameter, surface tension, and viscosity. Strouhal number (dimensionless wave frequency) decreases with increasing X*. Effect of pipe diameter, surface tension, and liquid viscosity on the liquid film Reynolds number, ReLF, was studied. ReLF variation with X* is not sensitive to the surface tension and less sensitive to the pipe diameter. However, ReLF is very sensitive to the viscosity of the flowing liquid. Correlations for wave celerity, amplitude, frequency, and liquid film Reynolds number are proposed. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012

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