Two-phase flow regime transition in large diameter vertical pipes

The two-phase flow regime transition in a large diameter (I.D.=200mm) vertical pipe was experimentally investigated using a dual-sensor optical probe. The flow transitions from bubbly to chum without an intermediate slug flow regime as the air flow rate is increased. The transition boundaries developed for bubbly to slug flow in small diameter pipes are compared to the bubbly to chum flow transition of the present experiment. The bubbly to chum transition occurs at a void fraction of about 0.15 compared to 0.25 for bubbly to slug transition in small diameter pipes. The radial distribution of bubble diameter, bubble frequency, bubble velocity and local void fraction were obtained using a dual-sensor optical probe at different flow conditions. The Probability Density Function (PDF) and Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of the bubble velocity and size are used to study the flow regime transition in the large diameter pipe. (author)