Analysis of Liquid Slug Motion in a Voided Line

Abstract

A quasi-two-dimensional two-phase flow cylindrical model of slug motion in a voided line is developed that can reasonably predict the change of flow pattern of the slug, air entrainment, “holdup” and the distribution of axial velocity. However, when using the theory of incompressible momentum transfer to estimate the pressure-time history of slug at the elbow, the calculated results are not in good agreement with those of the experiments. Further analysis of the experimental results indicate that an acoustic, or waterhammerlike response may occur immediately upon impact of the high-speed slug with the elbow, and subsequently, the waveform exhibits momentum transfer due to the acceleration of the slug at the elbow.