Abstract
Gas-liquid flows are very common in industrial applications and many times involve three
phases. Experiments are important as basis for development of 1D flow models used for design
of multiphase transport systems. The experiments are either used as direct closure relation or for
model validation. Currently, there is a lack of three-phase flow data on droplet entrainment. This
thesis is focused on two main topics: establish relevant experimental data of the droplet flux
profiles, pressure gradient and flow characteristics of three-phase stratified and annular flows
and to develop instrumentation suitable for three phase flow measurements.
Experiments in three phase flows at high gas densities were conducted to obtain the magnitude
and distribution of the droplet field flux and the effect of the water as a second liquid phase. This
was studied by sampling the droplets using an isokinetic sampling probe. An automated probe
system was designed and implemented successfully to reach this goal. The probe system is
capable to conduct simultaneous measurements of the local droplet flux and gas velocity. Oil and
water distribution inside the liquid layer in stratified-annular horizontal flow was studied using a
two-energy traversing gamma densitometer and visual observations, using high speed video
recordings of the flow. The experiments were performed at the Medium scale loop at SINTEF
Multiphase Flow Laboratory using a high density gas at medium pressure conditions, oil and
water.
Based on the experimental results, an assessment of the effect of droplet flux distribution over
the pipe cross section on the entrainment fraction calculation is discussed. Additionally, the
current state of predicting models for liquid droplet concentration profiles is reviewed and new
empirical correlations for the droplet concentration at the interface and the concentration decay
are proposed.
The effect on the pressure gradient changes due to liquid film at the wall, caused by droplet
wetting, was studied on a second experimental setup. The setup was built at the NTNU
Multiphase Flow Laboratory and consists of a vertical pipe to promote film symmetry. Twophase
flow experiments using water and air and a viscous oil and air at atmospheric pressure
were carried out. The results were compared with predictions of commercial flow simulators.
In addition a new two-energy gamma densitometer is designed and built to obtain cross-sectional
measurements of the phase fractions, capture transient flow conditions and for three-phase flow
measurements (oil, water and gas) in acrylic pipes. This instrument will be further tested and
applied in the future.
phases. Experiments are important as basis for development of 1D flow models used for design
of multiphase transport systems. The experiments are either used as direct closure relation or for
model validation. Currently, there is a lack of three-phase flow data on droplet entrainment. This
thesis is focused on two main topics: establish relevant experimental data of the droplet flux
profiles, pressure gradient and flow characteristics of three-phase stratified and annular flows
and to develop instrumentation suitable for three phase flow measurements.
Experiments in three phase flows at high gas densities were conducted to obtain the magnitude
and distribution of the droplet field flux and the effect of the water as a second liquid phase. This
was studied by sampling the droplets using an isokinetic sampling probe. An automated probe
system was designed and implemented successfully to reach this goal. The probe system is
capable to conduct simultaneous measurements of the local droplet flux and gas velocity. Oil and
water distribution inside the liquid layer in stratified-annular horizontal flow was studied using a
two-energy traversing gamma densitometer and visual observations, using high speed video
recordings of the flow. The experiments were performed at the Medium scale loop at SINTEF
Multiphase Flow Laboratory using a high density gas at medium pressure conditions, oil and
water.
Based on the experimental results, an assessment of the effect of droplet flux distribution over
the pipe cross section on the entrainment fraction calculation is discussed. Additionally, the
current state of predicting models for liquid droplet concentration profiles is reviewed and new
empirical correlations for the droplet concentration at the interface and the concentration decay
are proposed.
The effect on the pressure gradient changes due to liquid film at the wall, caused by droplet
wetting, was studied on a second experimental setup. The setup was built at the NTNU
Multiphase Flow Laboratory and consists of a vertical pipe to promote film symmetry. Twophase
flow experiments using water and air and a viscous oil and air at atmospheric pressure
were carried out. The results were compared with predictions of commercial flow simulators.
In addition a new two-energy gamma densitometer is designed and built to obtain cross-sectional
measurements of the phase fractions, capture transient flow conditions and for three-phase flow
measurements (oil, water and gas) in acrylic pipes. This instrument will be further tested and
applied in the future.
