An Application of a Flow Pattern Coefficient in Two-Phase Flow of Air-Water Mixture in Minichannels

Concerning the two-phase gas-liquid mixtures, the present understanding of even fully developed turbulent flow of a single-phase component in close channels is not completely satisfactory. In the two-phase or multiphase flow of such heterogeneous mixture like gas-liquid many more independent parameters are involved, thereby making this process more complicated and less transparent for understanding, mathematical modeling and simulating or calculating of such parameter like the length pressure gradient. In those mathematical models for calculations and simulations, as well as for interpretation of experimental results, there is a very complicated and random phenomenon of flow patterns, which needs to be quantitatively and accurately, incorporated producing higher accuracy in calculation and description. Unfortunately, nowadays, a method of how to measure flow patterns is not available. Recognizing these challenges this paper will present an approach to incorporate flow pattern phenomenon into the two-phase flow calculation model by (1) developing a mathematical model for pressure losses in two-phase flow based on in-situ parameters, (2) developing and defining a flow pattern coefficient, which incorporates the flow pattern phenomena, and (3) present the developed mathematical model with the incorporation of flow patterns, which demonstrated significant increase of accuracy of calculations based on conducted experimental research on air-water two-phase mixture flow in a horizontal small square channel.