The Effect of Outlet Inclination on Two-Phase Flow Splitting in an Equal-Sided Impacting Tee Junction

Phase-distribution data have been generated for two-phase (air-water) flow splitting at an impacting tee junction with a horizontal inlet and inclined outlets. This investigation also considers the full-separation capabilities of the junction and the effect of the outlet angle of inclination on partial separation at various inlet conditions. A flow loop with the ability to incline the outlets from −90° downward to +90° upward was constructed. The operating conditions were as follows: test-section inside diameter of 13.5 mm, nominal junction pressure (P_s) of 200 kPa (abs), near ambient temperature (T_s), inlet superficial gas velocities (J_G1) ranging from 2.0 to 40 m/s, inlet superficial liquid velocities (J_L1) ranging from 0.01 to 0.18 m/s, mass split ratios (W₃/W₁) from 0 to1.0 and inlet flow regimes of stratified, wavy, and annular. The data reveal that the degree of maldistribution of the phases depended on the inlet conditions, the mass split ratio at the junction, and the inclination angle of the outlets.